Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Hamlet and Richard III
    Hamlet and Richard III
    Hamlet and Richard III
    Ebook163 pages1 hour

    Hamlet and Richard III

    By Roy Lancaster

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Richard speaks his thoughts:

    "But I—born crude, with hum-ped back and wretched, misformed shape, whose visage makes dogs snarl and bark, and grown men stand and gape—am not well built for sporting tricks, 'tis plain for all to see, a lover I will never prove, so villain I will be."

    With this simple verse, the essence of Richard and what drives him to his evil excesses is captured, and this format of Shakespearean style verse continues throughout the book to cover the entire play, including notable real life events, such as the War of the Roses, the Princes in the Tower and the ultimate end of Richard at the Battle of Bosworth.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAustin Macauley
    Release dateJun 13, 2018
    ISBN9780463248126
    Hamlet and Richard III
    Author

    Roy Lancaster

    Roy Lancaster was born in London and qualified as an architect, designing many projects throughout the Middle East where he opened an office and spent most of his architectural working life. After retirement he took up writing, mainly children's material. He now lives in Cheltenham with his wife.

    Related to Hamlet and Richard III

    Related ebooks

    Children's Poetry For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Dawn Of A dynasty

      Aug 11, 2023

      Dawn Of A dynasty
      5 min read

    • Article

      Fit For A Queen

      Oct 29, 2020

      Fit For A Queen
      6 min read

    • Article

      Q&A Alison Weir

      May 12, 2022

      Alison Weir is Britain’s top-selling female historian. Her works include the Six Tudor Queens series of novels, as well as the recent non-fiction book Queens of the Crusades. Her latest novel, Elizabeth of York: The Last White Rose, is the first inst

      2 min read

    • Article

      A Medieval Palace Reborn

      Jun 8, 2023

      A Medieval Palace Reborn
      2 min read

    • Article

      Richard III Struggled Against His Two Brothers For The Crown

      Dec 1, 2020

      English history recounts many tales of bloody battles, but the infighting among “The Brothers York” was legendary for its ferocity.

      3 min read

    • Article

      The WARRIOR KING

      Aug 12, 2022

      The WARRIOR KING
      5 min read

    • Article

      James V: The Incognito King

      Dec 17, 2021

      James V: The Incognito King
      5 min read

    • Article

      England’s Last Boy King

      Nov 4, 2022

      Edward VI was a pale-faced, sickly child. Just nine years old when declared king in 1547, he would be a puppet of powerful courtiers and die, aged 15, in the summer of 1553. His six-year kingship is a near-forgotten interlude between the rule of his

      4 min read

    • Article

      The White Rose & The Tudors

      Mar 19, 2018

      The White Rose & The Tudors
      3 min read

    • Article

      The BULLETIN

      Jun 10, 2022

      The BULLETIN
      3 min read

    • Article

      Henry Vii Had Been Overthrown?

      Oct 8, 2020

      Henry Vii Had Been Overthrown?
      5 min read

    • Article

      Pepin Versus Waifar

      Mar 1, 2022

      Pepin Versus Waifar
      5 min read

    • Article

      Two Houses Divided

      Mar 27, 2020

      1390-1411 The mother of Richard Plantagenet and grandmother of King Edward IV and King Richard III, Anne de Mortimer was descended from royalty through her mother and grandparents. She died during childbirth. 1375-1415 The father of Richard Plantagen

      3 min read

    • Article

      Valentine’s way AN WILSON Valentine Ackland: A Transgressive Life

      Jun 2, 2021

      Handheld Press £15.99 One old reviewer found a tear rolling round his cheek towards the end of this book. When the poet Valentine Ackland went into hospital with breast cancer, she wrote to her lover of 38 years, novelist Sylvia Townsend Warner, ‘You

      3 min read

    • Article

      Elizabethan Espionage

      Aug 13, 2022

      Elizabethan Secret Agent: The Untold Story of William Ashby 1536-1593 Timothy Ashby Scotland Street Press, 2022 429 pages Hardback, £24.99 ISBN: 9781910895597 Spying on one’s neighbour, by any standard, is an unfriendly act, though now taken as neces

      3 min read

    • Article

      On The Tudor Trail

      Aug 13, 2021

      On The Tudor Trail
      5 min read

    • Article

      Fit For A King

      Dec 13, 2020

      Fit For A King
      2 min read

    • Article

      Young Guns

      Sep 30, 2021

      Young Guns
      5 min read

    • Article

      1943 Battle For Italy

      Oct 26, 2023

      1943 Battle For Italy
      13 min read

    • Article

      The Coldest Of Cases

      Mar 11, 2022

      The Coldest Of Cases
      4 min read

    • Article

      TIMELINE Mary’s Turbulent Life

      Mar 19, 2020

      TIMELINE Mary’s Turbulent Life
      1 min read

    • Article

      “We Have Believed The Normans’ View Of Themselves For Too Long”

      Feb 17, 2022

      David Musgrove: To quote from your introduction, “This book is concerned chiefly with the Normans’ explosive rise to power, their establishment in Normandy, and their 11th-century conquests.” Can you briefly chart that story for us? Judith Green: The

      9 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Hamlet and Richard III

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Hamlet and Richard III - Roy Lancaster

      About the Author
      Roy Lancaster was born in London and qualified as an architect, designing many projects throughout the Middle East, where he opened an office and spent most of his architectural working life. After retirement, he took up writing, mainly children’s material. He now lives in Cheltenham with his wife.
      ***
      Dedication
      For all children
      ***
      HAMLET AND
      RICHARD III
      AN INTRODUCTION TO SHAKESPEARE
      IN VERSE
      Suggested for ages 12 and up
      Adapted by Roy Lancaster
      ***
      Published by Austin Macauley at Smashwords
      Copyright 2018 Roy Lancaster

      The right of Roy Lancaster to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the

      Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. All Rights Reserved. No reproduction, copy or transmission of this publication may be made without written permission. No paragraph of this publication may be reproduced, copied or transmitted save with the written permission of the publisher, or in accordance with the provisions of the Copyright Act 1956 (as amended). Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.
      Smashwords Edition, License Notes
      This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
      HAMLET AND
      RICHARD III
      available from the British Library.
      www.austinmacauley.com
      HAMLET AND
      RICHARD III
      ISBN 9781788237697 (Paperback)
      ISBN 9781788237703 (Hardback)
      ISBN 9781788237710 (E-Book)
      Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd.
      ²⁰¹⁸
      First Published in 2018

      Austin.Macauley Publishers Ltd,

      AustinMacauley
      CGC-33-01, 25 Canada Square
      Canary Wharf, London E14 5LQ
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***
      ***

      HAMLET

      This version of the play is based on the one published in 1603, is used today and is universally regarded as Shakespeare’s most popular work. It is approximately half the length of the pre-1603 version.

      It tells the story of Hamlet, a young Danish prince, who mourns the recent death of his father, the former king, who has been replaced on the throne by his brother, Hamlet’s uncle. Hamlet is visited by the ghost of his father who tells him he was murdered by his brother, so that he could claim the throne. The ghost demands that Hamlet avenge his murder. Much of the play is then taken up with the prince trying to find proof of his uncle’s guilt and to do this, he pretends to go mad (Shakespeare cleverly writes it so that the reader could think he really might be mad!) causing the king to get suspicious and to try and get rid of Hamlet. The prince learns of this and turns the plot against his uncle leading to intense family fights, deaths and the final tragic scene.

      ***

      Principal Characters in the Play

      KING CLAUDIUS: King of Denmark

      QUEEN GERTRUDE: His wife

      PRINCE HAMLET: Son of Gertrude, nephew of Claudius

      HORATIO: Friend of Prince Hamlet

      POLONIUS: Counsel (adviser) to the king and queen

      LAERTES: Son of Polonius

      GHOST: Ghost of Hamlet’s father

      OPHELIA: Daughter of Polonius

      NCRANTZ .

      ROSENCRANTZ and: Former friends of

      GUILDENSTERN: Prince Hamlet

      OSRIC: Member of the king’s court

      FORTENBRAS: A prince of a neighbouring country

      GRAVEDIGGER: Unnamed

      Various lords and ladies,: officials and soldiers.

      ***

      ACT 1

      ACT 1 Scene 1

      Elsinore Castle in Denmark where three soldiers, Horatio, Barnardo and Marcellus, are keeping watch at night.

      In the land of Denmark, years ago, stood the Castle Elsinore,

      A brooding place where all within prepared themselves for war.

      They feared their neighbour, Fortinbras, would march to steal their land,

      In readiness, their swords were keen; their ramparts ever manned.

      Atop the walls whilst keeping watch, three soldiers stood and talked,

      They spoke about a ghost that had for three nights by them walked.

      They questioned had their eyes been true or fogged by mist and rain,

      Then as a distant church bell struck, the ghost appeared again.

      Look yonder there! Marcellus cried, "Oh, vile and dreadful thing,

      I swear it has a likeness to our late lamented king."

      Horatio stared hard and long, and said, "I do agree,

      It wears King Hamlet’s armoured breast, his bearing too I see."

      "I know not what this portent means or why it roams so late,

      My judgement is it warns of harm upon our Danish state.

      I’ll speak that it may speak to me and of its purpose tell,

      Illusion! Stay and use thy voice, explain thy visit well."

      To all it seemed the vision paused in readiness to speak,

      But then a cock announced the dawn, that night was past its peak.

      The vision faded, then was gone; all three were left in awe,

      But when recovered, went to tell Prince Hamlet what they saw.

      They exit to find Prince Hamlet.

      End of scene 1

      ***

      ACT 1

      Scene 2

      An audience chamber in the castle where King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes and others are holding court.

      Within the chamber, Claudius with Gertrude by his side,

      Said, "On my brother Hamlet’s death, his queen became my bride.

      So as you grieve for our late king, praise too our wedded state,

      For now, as one and with your love, we rule and guide your fate."

      Turning then to business, he said, "Emissaries go,

      Present this note to Norway’s King, the uncle of our foe. Within I ask that he suppress the urges of his kin,

      And thereby, void the need for war; its bloody gore and din."

      Cornelius and Voltemand take the note and exit.

      And now, Laertes, speak thy will; what ask you of your king?

      "Your coronation done, my Liege, I ask you grant one thing,

      Allow that I return to France, my father now consents."

      If that be so, the king replied, God speed and get thee hence.

      ***

      Laertes departs, and the king turns to Hamlet.

      And you, Prince Hamlet, now my son, what clouds hang ’oer your head?

      It seems he mourns his father’s death too much, Queen Gertrude said.

      Seems? said Hamlet. "Nay, not seems, but do. I’d have you know,

      These solemn clothes that cloak my form just mask the hurt below."

      ’Tis right and sweet that you should mourn, the king to Hamlet said,

      "But time has come for you to shed your feelings for the dead.

      I’m now your king, your father too, and so the world should heed,

      That you are next to have my throne, as if from seed to seed.

      So, as my heir, remain with us; do not return to school,

      Be our counsel and be our son, to leave would be most cruel."

      Hear my prayer, Queen Gertrude said, that here with us you’ll stay.

      I hear your prayer, her son replied. And Madam, I’ll obey.

      The king and queen, satisfied with Hamlet’s answer, exit the chamber leaving Hamlet alone brooding over what he considers his mother’s too soon marriage to his uncle.

      What wicked speed, Prince Hamlet said. "So soon a widow wed,

      My father’s body one month cool; she joins my uncle’s bed.

      This hasty act can bring no good; it smells of things to come,

      Oh break my heart, for I still grieve and yet must hold my tongue."

      ***

      Enter Horatio, Marcellus and Barnardo. They are greeted by their school friend, Hamlet.

      Good morrow friends, why not at school? What keeps you by my side?

      A wedding and a funeral, Horatio replied.

      Your father’s death was sorely pushed by marriage of your mother.

      ’Twas done in thrift, the prince replied, that one feast serve the other.

      "Horatio, my dearest friend, this is the vilest day,

      My mind’s eye has my father come and there before me stay.

      He was

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1