"Anonymous"

Anonymous has come and gone, so now is probably the best time to release a belated counterpoint podcast

To sum up, it's bad writing and bad history.

The next episode is Antony and Cleopatra, vote for what you want to see after that!

EDIT/CORRECTION:
Our next episode is going to be about Julius Caesar, partially because it's before A&C, but mostly because it's going to be playing later this month, and we want fresh memories.

Much Ado About Nothing

Much Ado About Nothing is a good play, with many good turns of phrase by Shakespeare. So many, in fact, that I forgot some of my favorites!

Is it not strange that sheeps' guts should hale souls out of men's bodies?

Benedick, Act II, Scene III (Referring to the way that musical instruments can cause transcendent emotions)

For there was never yet philosopher, that could endure the tooth-ache patiently.

Leonato, Act V, Scene I

We don't know what the next episode will be about, cast your vote in the comments, or in the donation link!

If you do make a donation, is it possible to leave a message? If not feel free to send your request/comment to Shakespearepodcast at gmail.com

What Is Hamlet

Hamlet is a cool play, and a cool guy. We did an episode about the play. Don't worry, this is just an overview, we're going to dig in much deeper with later episodes.

Here's a sample from the "Bad Quarto", "Good Quarto", and the First Folio

Ben Jonson

A new month, and a new episode of BardCast! This one is about Ben Jonson, he was a pretty cool guy, if rather stuck-up. Please respond to our newest poll, while you're here!

This is one of the better sources of Jonson's works.

Things I forgot to mention this episode:

• Ben Jonson was probably a bricklayer before he became a professional writer. It's not for sure, but it's the most likely job. 
• Ben Jonson once got in trouble for writing a semi-treasonous play, and he learned from that never to write against the monarchy.

To Celia,
Drink to me only with thine eyes
And I will pledge with mine. Or leave a kiss but in the cup
And I'll not look for wine.

The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much hon'ring thee
As giving it a hope that there
It could not withered be;

But thou thereon did'st only breathe,
And sent'st it back to me,
Since when it grows and smells, I swear
Not of itself, but thee.
(Thanks, Wikipedia!)

Bonus BardCast: Best/Worst Tragedies

In this episode we name our favorite and least favorite Tragedies, and talk about how the podcast is going.

Check out this funny webcomic on King Lear. She also has one on Macbeth.

Kurt Vonnegut's rules for writing. If everyone read these, stories would be much better.

Like we say in the episode, this episode is more casual, let us know what you think, and vote for your own favorite Tragedy!

The Winter's Tale

It's been a long time, and we're sorry for that, but The Winter's Tale is finally ready for consumption.


The Winter's Tale (Modern Library Classics) (See all Shakespeare Literature)

Sonnets Introduction

Shakespeare's Sonnets are regarded as some of the finest poetry in the English language. Unfortunately, neither of us are huge fans, so this is a rather irreverent summary of the poems.

Oscar Wilde's story about the person known as WH is available HERE.

Witness the most obscure document in Shakesparean research!



Note in particular the way that every word is followed by a period, making even the sentence's basic conjugation tricky at best.

As we say in the episode, TT is Thomas Thorpe, and WH is a mystery, probably to never be solved.

EDIT: The podcast initially came out doubled. It should be fixed now.

As You Like It

We're back, and this episode is about As You Like It

This episode's music is also from Freesound.org, available here, and performed by hammerklavier.

A good quote I forgot to mention:

"Love is merely a madness, and, I tell you, deserves
as well a dark house and a whip as madmen do".
- As You Like It, Act III, Scene II

Our next episode is about The Sonnets