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The Winter's Tale

Arkangel Shakespeare

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The Winter's Tale

By: William Shakespeare
Narrated by: Sinead Cusack, Ciaran Hinda, Eileen Atkins, Paul Jesson, Sir John Gielgud
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About this listen

King Leontes of Sicilia is seized by sudden and terrible jealousy of his wife Hermione, whom he accuses of adultery. He believes the child Hermione is bearing was fathered by his friend Polixenes, and when the baby girl is born he orders her to be taken to some wild place and left to die. Though Hermione's child escapes death, Leontes' cruelty has terrible consequences. Loss paves the way for reunion, and life and hope are born out of desolation and despair.

One of the late romances in Shakespeare's canon, this complex work is at times tragic, at times humorous, but always entertaining and enlightening.

Sinead Cusack plays Hermione, and Ciaran Hinda plays Leontes. Eileen Atkins is Paulina and Paul Jesson is Polixenes. Time the Chorus is played by Sir John Gielgud.

Public Domain (P)2014 Blackstone Audio Classics Drama & Plays Shakespeare Witty Middle Ages
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The actors all have stunning voices and play it as though on a stage. Follow with your written copy if you're studying it to get a sense of the tone. I'm not going to try and praise Shakespeare because anything I say can't be enough. It's a wonderful romance with a decent bit of drama and comedy. Drama and comedy combine with the famous stage direction of 'exit pursued by bear'. But it's a better story than to focus on this. Just listen and enjoy!

Exit pursued by bear

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The acting and recording are outstanding throughout but the music for the songs is somewhat irritating.

Great acting marred by irritating music.

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