by Prisha Mehta
We’ve all heard of Shakespeare and his famous plays, like Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, and so many more. But what if they were retold? What if the characters time travelled to this century? What if they were re-written by modern authors?
The Hogarth Shakespeare is a series launched in 2015 by the Hogarth Press to commemorate the 400th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death. The initiative was to reintroduce Shakespeare’s timeless stories to modern readers by having acclaimed contemporary authors reimagine his plays in novel form. The goal was to bridge the gap between the Elizabethan era and the present day, making the playwright’s themes, characters, and stories accessible and relevant to today’s audiences.
Book lovers saw it not as an adaptation or a rewrite, but more like "the coolest university class" about Shakespeare. Readers were excited for such an initiative, white the authors aimed to make Shakespeare more popular amongst upcoming readers. Opinions were mixed with some preferring the original works, while others leaned toward the retellings. Readers who had previously studied the plays often gravitated toward the originals, appreciating that depth and complexity, while new readers favoured the retellings for their accessibility and a more modern relevance. These retellings offer a fresh perspective, allowing readers to engage with Shakespeare's themes in ways that resonate with contemporary life.
Authors like Jo Nesbo, Margaret Atwood, Jeanette Winterson, and Anne Tyler were invited to contribute, each selecting a Shakespeare play to reinterpret in their own style and voice. This gave readers a fresh lens to explore Shakespeare's work, with settings, characters, and narratives adapted to contemporary or alternative contexts while preserving the morals and meanings of the original plays. With a total of seven books, the initiative began in 2015 and ended in 2018.
1) The Gap of Time by Jeanette Winterson (2015) – The Winter's Tale
Jeanette Winterson stays faithful to the themes of The Winter's Tale, particularly the covetousness, loss, and redemption that make up the original. The novel closely follows the main plot points, including the accusations of infidelity, the exile of a daughter, and eventual reconciliation. She transports the play’s setting to a modern world, marked by financial crises and urban decay. Sicilia becomes a London banking hub, while Bohemia is a rough part of America. The reimagined elements explore contemporary and imperative issues like abandonment, trauma, and social class.
2) Shylock Is My Name by Howard Jacobson (2016) – The Merchant of Venice
“The best way for me to describe this book would be as pleasantly surprising? A gentle read but one that rested heavily on my mind.” Howard Jacobson retains the central themes of The Merchant of Venice, like anti-Semitism, justice, and revenge. Shylock still remains a key figure, grappling with the same tensions and challenges as in the original. The setting is modern-day, in a wealthy English suburb, where Shylock is reimagined as a wealthy art collector rather than a moneylender. A deeper perspective of Shylock emerges, revealing the finer nuances of his character. Modern interpretations such as this, bring to light themes of identity and cultural conflict, which were not as prominently highlighted in the original.
3) Hag-Seed by Margaret Atwood (2016) – The Tempest
The Tempest’s core theme of revenge is retained, with Felix (based on Prospero) arranging an elaborate plot to reclaim his lost power, his position as Duke of Milan. The idea of theatre as a transformative and guiding force, central to Shakespeare’s play, is also preserved. It is set in a Canadian prison, where Felix, a disgraced theatre director, uses Shakespeare’s The Tempest as part of his plan for revenge. It modernised the narrative by focusing on theatre as a method of rehabilitation, blending Shakespeare’s themes of magic with the magic of performance. Reader’s thought that it was a great book, with many interesting relations between the play and the book story. But a lot of them criticised it on its didactic tone that made it a little bit dull.
4) Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler (2016) – The Taming of the Shrew
Vinegar Girl is a lighthearted story that is a take on The Taming of the Shrew, and proves to be a beguiling novel. It is full of wit, eccentricity and gentle comedy. Its central plot is about a tenacious woman being forced into a marriage is preserved in Tyler’s retelling. Tyler gives the story a lighthearted and modern twist. Set in present-day Baltimore, the novel explores Kate’s struggles with family and independence. Instead of a harsh taming, the novel is more about self-discovery and coming to terms with familial obligations and love, softening the original’s gender dynamics.
5) New Boy by Tracy Chevalier (2017) – Othello
The central themes of jealousy, race, and betrayal from Othello are fully embodied in this new reimagining. The story of how misunderstandings and manipulation lead to tragedy is seen in the actions of the characters. Set in a 1970s Washington, D.C. schoolyard, the novel portrays Osei, a Ghanaian boy, as Othello, and Dee, a white girl, as Desdemona. The story shifts from a battlefield to a playground, and the complexities of race and bullying in a school setting are brought to attention in an insightful manner.
6) Macbeth by Jo Nesbo (2018) – Macbeth
The author follows the original themes of ambition, betrayal, and the descent into madness and paranoia. The plot remains centred on Macbeth’s rise to power and eventual downfall, manipulated by his partner and his own growing paranoia. Akin to the original we see Macbeth's divestation of humanity and morality. Set in a corrupt, crime-ridden 1970s industrial town, Macbeth is reimagined as a police officer rising through the ranks, with cynicism, fatalism and moral ambiguity. The supernatural elements are replaced with modern equivalents like drug-fueled hallucinations and psychological manipulation. A book with twists and turns where your words, senses and friends all betray you.
7) Dunbar by Edward St. Aubyn (2018) – King Lear
The key themes of betrayal, familial strife, and the decline of a powerful figure are retained. The father-daughter relationship central to King Lear is also mirrored in this retelling. Set in a modern corporate world, the novel follows Henry Dunbar, a media mogul who loses control of his empire to his vindictive and treacherous daughters. He brings the ruthless world of business into focus, while addressing the emotional and psychological aspects of ageing, power, and vulnerability. He has captured distinct elements from the original and weaved a different beast, beautifully written, imbued with the darkest of humour, and which cannot fail to enthrall.
If Shakespeare feels too overwhelming right now, starting with retellings of his work would be the best approach. These master authors present simple and direct writing in a contemporary world, with characters similar to the originals. The twists and turns in their stories will keep you hooked. If you’ve already read or studied Shakespeare, comparing the two versions will allow you to see the characters and plots in a new light, deepening your understanding of both the play and the novel. Additionally, these retellings often modernise themes, making them more relatable in this day and age.
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