SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Othello (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options)

By: William Shakespeare, Jonathan Lomas

Narrated by: Joan Walker, Jude Akuwudike, Nick Murchie

Length: 11 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Here is the multi award-winning SmartPass study guide, with and without commentary options. This is a full-cast, unabridged performance with comprehensive commentary and analysis to allow any student to fully understand and appreciate the play. Meet literature's greatest villain in this tragedy, fuelled by jealous rage. Journey into the twisted mind of Iago, who freely admits, "I am not what I am", and truly get under the skin of this wondrous play.

©2007 SmartPass Ltd (P)2007 SmartPass Ltd

Critic Reviews

"Superb! A totally brilliant way to revise." (Daily Express)
"A wealth of useful material." (Times Educational Supplement)

Passion Gone Awry

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I would recommend this audiobook to a friend to get in depth analysis of "Othello." Even though I thought I knew the story, I realized that I did not know it until I listened to the commentary and analysis.

What other book might you compare SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Othello (Unabridged, Dramatised, Commentary Options) to and why?

I have listened to SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to "Hamlet," "Macbeth," and Julius Caesar," but the SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Othello had the greatest impact on me. As an African American man I was drawn to this story about race and being an outsider. I can imagine myself as Othello.

Which scene was your favorite?

My favorite scene came at the end when Emilia unleashes her anger both at Othello and Iago for their cruelty and stupidity. Her rage represented the rage of the audience and the ages. When Othello asked Iago why he betrayed him, Iago declined to answer, adding more torment to Othello's pain.

Any additional comments?

What really made this spectacular production and analysis was Joan Walker's passion for the material. As the SmartPass guide, she brought the listeners along and made them feel the excitement of discovery.I loved it when she got angry at the characters or questioned their motives. She served as my personal guide to the worlds of Shakespeare and Othello. I would listen to this SmartPass Plus Audio again before seeing the play.

Informative but irritating

This Study Guide is very informative and well structured. It lends itself to VERY short study periods when covering the commentary, becasue the voices of narrators are extremely irritating. The tone of Ms Walker and Ms Akuwudike is that of infant school teachers adopting silly voices for under-fives. Patronising. To be fair, I have probably purchased a study guide intended for primary school children rather than adults.