Macbeth

Shakespeare Appreciated: (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)

By: William Shakespeare, Simon Potter, Phil Viner

Narrated by: Joan Walker, Nick Murchie, Coralyn Sheldon

Length: 6 hrs and 55 mins

Publisher's summary

Experience Macbeth as a powerful full-cast drama with entertaining and enlightening commentary that explains what's what and who's who as the plot unfolds.

To help you get the most out of Shakespeare, the narrator offers historical insights and background information, so you can enjoy the jokes, appreciate the references, and get a real sense of Shakespeare's world. This unabridged drama is also presented without commentary.

If school turned you off Shakespeare, find out what you've been missing all these years with this beautifully crafted audio presentation.

From the creators of SmartPass audio education study guides, voted third in a national poll to find the UK's favourite audiobook (2008). Winners of 3 Spoken Word Awards for Best Drama (2004), Best Original Audio and Best Publishing Initiative (2005).

©2007 SmartPass Ltd (P)2007 SmartPass Ltd

Great for use in the classroom

Any additional comments?

This is my favorite recording of Macbeth. The actor's performances (especially David Tennet as the Porter) really enhance the play and make it easier for my students to follow along. I know some teachers swear by having the kids read the play aloud, but the mangle Shakespeare's language and they don't know the story yet, so they can't read with very good inflection. The sound effects and the performances really bring the play to life, and I enjoy using it in my classroom.

Very Informative

What made the experience of listening to Macbeth the most enjoyable?

I like how the narrator explains each dialogue within the play for me to better understands it.

What does the narrators bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The details explanation of the dialogue and also the athmosphere of each scene that was well presented.

MacBeth

Eureka, after 25 years i decided to re-read Macbeth, my confused understanding of the play was transformed into an understanding i will never forget. The narration was exquisit i have finally conquored MacBeth.

Glad I discovered this

Studying Shakespeare in school, we always had the teacher to lead us through it. This is like that, but more entertaining. The narration and commentary weren't the distraction I feared they might be, but very helpful. Without them, frankly, I'd have been lost, but I understood all that was going on in every scene. And I loved the historical info about England at the time, the Globe Theater, and how MacBeth ties in with King James, for whom Shakespeare wrote it.

Wonderful!

The narration and explanations in the first half are wonderful! Not having the patience to sit with a textbook, and wanting to read all the Shakespeare I didn’t have time for when I was younger, I’m finding Shakespeare Appreciated truly wonderful!!

I Love the Commentary

I'm a high school teacher and bought this to sue with my class. I don't find the commentary distracting but helpful. My students quickly figured out that when a particular voice was talking that was explanation. Also, there is a version of the play without any commentary in the file as well.

Really good.

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

I always recomend Shakespeare to friends, because it's like a tepanyaki grill, even when the performance is dismal, it's still entertaining.

What did you like best about this story?

The performance of the actress(es) playing the part of the wierd sisters was fantastic. Uber Creepy, without being lame.

What aspect of the narrators’s performance would you have changed?

SLOW DOWN!!! The entire cast talks to dang fast, it makes it difficult to understand.

Did Macbeth inspire you to do anything?

Actually yes, I murdered one of my rivals. Thus ensuring that I get a promotion MUWAHHAHA!!!

Any additional comments?

The complete works of William Shakespeare should be required reading for a high school diploma.

Great!

The commentary is excellent, but if you desire no commentary there is an unabridged and uncommentaried version at the end of the audiobook. I can't recommend Shakespeare Appreciated enough.

Best accidental purchase I've ever made

I just wanted a good dramatization of Macbeth and this one had high ratings so I bought it. I didn't realize until it started that it was filled with commentary every 5 or 10 lines. I've studied Shakespeare at a high level under Paul Cubeta and I expected this commentary to be distracting and written at the lowest possible level. Neither is remotely the case. It is excellent work.

More importantly, the woman who does the narrating is quite an actor herself and sets the emotional pitch of her commentary to match the scene. She almost sounds like another character in the play.

This is a remarkable achievement.

Makes Macbeth understandable and enjoyable!

Something reminded me lately of my failure to comprehend Macbeth in my high school days. Always making an easy A in english, I remember being frustrated that I just couldn't understand the content of the play and therefore made a low grade because of it.
I tried a sample of this version with explanatory narration, and quickly knew that I had to buy it.
I enjoyed it very much, and now since I now understand the story and characters completely, I look forward to watching a performance of the play in the near future.
I recommend this audio book for anyone who is struggling or has struggled with Macbeth.