Page 86 - All About History - Issue 38-16

REVIEWS

All About History on the books, TV shows and

films causing a stir in the history world
MONSTROUS LITTLE

The fantastical world of Shakespeare taken to new heights
VOICES Author Various Publisher Abaddon Price £7.99 Released Out now

he worlds of William Shakespeare are throughout. This, after all, is a book for the
rich with characters, from the magical fantastical not the literal worlds of the Bard.
faeries of A Midsummer’s Night Dream, The structure of some of the pieces is
to the historical figures depicted very simple, teaming a lot of dialogue with
T through the major events of their lives. very little descriptive text. It is reminiscent
Monstrous Little Voices takes this plethora of the plays on which they are based. They
of famous muses and uses them to its own would almost work better if kept within
devices. Six authors – including Jonathan that format. Shakespeare wasn’t famed for
Barnes, Adrian Tchaikovsky, Emma Newman, his heavy-handed stage direction, though
Kate Heartfield and Foz Meadows with an the occasional addition of choice actions
afterword from Dr John Lavagnino, from the add amusement to readings, yet remain
Shakespeare Centre at King’s College – have purely specific to events. Some of the
shaped the worlds to create their own stories, stories, ‘The Unkindest Cut’ in particular,
from following characters from The Tempest, takes pleasure in slowly eeking out the
As You Like It , Julius Caesar and Twelfth action, creating beautiful imagery of
Night among others. trembling hands about a knife as Lucia
Each story opens with its relevant learns the art of killing. In ‘On The Twelfth
passage of Shakespeare’s original texts, Night’ the author has elected to open new
giving you insight into the master chapters with play-style scene descriptors
playwright’s world, titled using a line and stage directions, with only adds to the
from the play from which the basis is set. intrigue of the piece.
Only you have the worlds of The Tempest Monstrous Little Voices remains true to
colliding with A Midsummer’s Night this format and creates very easy reading.
Dream, and marriages happening across What is a little disappointing is the lack
two different plays. Covering the same of highly provocative wordplay that the
themes as the classic works, the opening Bard is so famous for, yet perhaps it could
story, ‘Coral Bones’, sees The Tempest’s be found with extra layers of analysis. It
Miranda disguising herself as a man to isn’t to say that the texts aren’t enjoyable,
travel with the hobgoblin Puck. they are, but Shakespeare’s works were
Monstrous Little Voices concentrates for never intended to be read: they were made
the most part on Shakespeare’s comedies, to be performed and it seems as though
bringing together his fantastical worlds Monstrous Little Voices could benefit from
to create a linked universe, which makes the same treatment.
sense, as having Hamlet running about There is a lot to like here; they are
with the likes of Puck and A Midsummer’s enjoyable excerpts playing in Shakespeare’s
Night Dream’s mechanicals wouldn’t fit sand pit, but they are probably best read
the theme of the book. And it would, by those with a lot of prior knowledge of “The book is careful not to
quite frankly, possibly give any hard-core the plays in which they are based. There is tread in the waters of the
Shakespeare fanatics heart palpitations at a lot of assumed knowledge, which works
the misuse of his characters. But the book for what the project is. The authors have tragedies, keeping its tone
is careful not to tread in the waters of the handled another’s world competently and
tragedies, keeping its tone light-hearted produced an entertaining piece. light-hearted throughout”

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