Sixty-Minute Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet (Classics for All Ages)

I really like this 60 minute version. Completely dijestable version for students.

I received two books called "Sixty-Minute Shakespeare." The first book was "Romeo and Juliet." The second was "Hamlet." I slowly sank into my chair and had flash backs of being in school and trying so hard to understand the many twists, turns and language of Shakespeare.As I began to read "Romeo and Juliet," much to my surprise I actually understood what was being said. The author added footnotes and did some editing that made it easy to read. Then I read "Hamlet" and again understood what was being said. I began to glimpse the wonder that is hidden within the words.For the first time in my life I truly understood what Shakespeare had wrote. I loved both plays and was somewhat shocked that I did. I finally realized why he was considered brilliant, and so well known around the world.I really think these books, which are a part of a six book series, should be read by young people first, before they enter into the world of Shakespeare. The author has done a fantastic job of editing the books to shorter versions, than the original works. Even though the books are smaller, they in no way, take away from the story line of the larger books.All I can say is thank you Cass Foster. A window that I had closed, is now opened. All because Cass Foster created "Sixty Minute Shakespeare.Five star rating for both books.Sandra HeptinstallWhispering Winds Book Reviews.

Cass Foster has abridged Shakespeare's famous works and Five Star Publications has released them as the Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series. I read Romeo and Juliet and found that it contained all the highlights of the original in an easy-to-follow format. All of the famous lines such as, "But soft! What light through yonder window breaks?", "Parting is such sweet sorrow!", and "A rose by any other name would smell as sweet!" are included.I wouldn't call this a children's version, but found it appropriate for upper middle school or high school students. It would be perfect for use in practicing specific scenes or memorizing dialogue. One helpful addition is that unfamiliar words and terms are explained at the bottom of each page. The length of the book makes it easy to read in a limited amount of time.The product for this review was provided to me free of charge by Five Star Publications.. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and I was not compensated for them in any other way.

I was really excited to learn about a this new book series. It consists of several Shakespeare titles, condensed into shorter versions that can indeed be read in about thirty minutes. Also included is some background info that make the plays more accessible to kids of this generation, notes on what various words mean, themes to look for, etc.I was happy to see that the original language is preserved (I had fears of reading, Romeo, yo Romeo -- where are you?) -- it's just shortened. I really enjoyed my hour spent renewing my acquaintance with Romeo and Juliet, and I think this series would be great for homeschoolers, teens/tweens who'd like a less-intimidating introduction to Shakespeare, or for productions of these plays that don't go on and on forever.The product was provided by Five Star Publications for this review.

Sixty Minute Shakespeare is a wonderfully condensed, yet true-to-form adaptation that even the Bard himself would be proud to recommend. If your child is struggling to understand the full-length version of a Shakespearean play, this could be just the thing to whet his appetite. It's a fabulous tool for teachers in the classroom because it contains lists of props, scenery, and characters that allow the students to act out the play together. I especially appreciate the fact that, although the play is condensed, it is NOT contemporarized. So for teachers or home educators who are short on time but want to maintain the beauty of Shakespeare's original language and poetry, Sixty Minute Shakespeare is your answer. It's a great stepping stone to helping students make sense of the original works.Read my complete review here: [...]

Reviewed By: Kelly Crespin, Eclectic Homeschool OnlineRomeo and Juliet is part of the Sixty-Minute Shakespeare series published by Five Star Publications. This series offers a way for many teenagers and adults to read and/or study Shakespeare without having to spend the time required to read an entire play. The author has taken the full works of Shakespeare and edited them into readable and enjoyable condensed versions of the original work. This would be a wonderful choice for introducing Shakespeare.The paperback book is only 73 pages in length, yet contains all acts of the play through Act V, Scene 3. To make things easier, at the bottom of each page are small footnotes defining words the reader might not know. For example, one page gives these definitions:Fair and honest = properMark = TargetTuckle-bed = bed on castersA quote from the back jacket sums up the true spirit of the book: "While the language is condensed, the integrity of Shakespeare's writings is kept intact so students of the Bard can experience the thrill of the story as well as the beauty of the verse and prose."