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Question: Which Shakespeare book/play should I read first!? Which one is the best!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Why don't you start with simple one( although Shakespeare's play are not simple) a comic one, like Twelfth Night!. It is so funny!. Then if you want the heavy stuff read Hamlet or Macbeth!. May I recommend that after you read the play, watch Shakespeare Animated Tales: Twelfth Night at youtube Check it out
http://www!.youtube!.com/watch!?v=fS9qTOFUN!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

None of them!.

Don't read them - listen or better yet - watch and listen to them!.

Your library must have or be able to obtain and loan you DVDs or videotapes of some of Shakespeare's plays!.

The plays were made to be presented by living, breathing people - not lifted from dusty pages!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Literature 101 - University of Rhode Island - fall of 1971
I graduated in with a BS from URI in 1975Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'd say it depends on your age really!. If you're a teenager, you'll probably appreciate his comedies more, but then again who knows!?!

Taming of the Shrew was the first one I read!. I think I was 8 or 9!. Of course, I read the adapted version, but Shakespeare won my heart for ever :)

So, that would be a good start!. Here are some suggestions as well:

As You Like It
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Two Gentleman of Verona

Anyway, as I said, if you're young, I suggest you start with a comedy - if you're not, then it really doesn't matter since he wrote nothing but masterpieces!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

My first was the Merchant of Venice (and Shylock was a usurer, not a usury!)!. The Dream is fun!. Julius Caesar is easy and also a great play!.

Try to see them performed too - lots of film versions available!. Brannagh's version of Henry V is brilliant!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

BA Hons English Lit - read 'em all!Www@QuestionHome@Com

You'll have to decide which one you like the best!.

I can tell you which ones you can read the fastest: The Comedy of Errors, and Macbeth!. Both these are the shortest plays, the first being a comedy (obviously), and the second a tragedy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

***--SPOILERS--***















Othello, Moor of Venice

Study Guides:

http://www!.shmoop!.com/intro/literature/w!.!.!.

http://www!.bookrags!.com/notes/oth/

http://www!.sparknotes!.com/shakespeare/ot!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Romeo and Juliet is probably the most well known and in my opinion the easiest to understand, so that might be a good place to start!.
My favourite is probably Mid Summer Nights Dream!. Any of his plays are great though!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I like 'Taming of the shrew' best, followed by 'Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar!.

I think these are probably the easiest to read and understand!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Merchant of Venice is the best!. That's where I learned the word usury!. 'Shylock was a usury!.'Www@QuestionHome@Com

HAMLETWww@QuestionHome@Com

Hamlet or MacbethWww@QuestionHome@Com

The Merchant Of Venice!.!.!. It is superb!.!.!.!.!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

A Midsummers Night Dream, its great !Www@QuestionHome@Com

Mid Summer Night Dream'sWww@QuestionHome@Com

King LearWww@QuestionHome@Com

I'm a big fan of Hamlet!.Www@QuestionHome@Com