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Be Thou Now Persuaded: Living In A Shakespearean World [Boxed Set]

The physical version of this title is not currently available for sale on Rhino.com

The comedies, tragedies, and histories of English playwright William Shakespeare remain a thespian’s ultimate challenge. Moreover, on the best-seller lists for 400 years now, his mostly populist works are at the very root of contemporary pop culture. The evidence is all around us—from blockbuster movies that faithfully re-create or update the Bard of Avon’s stories to book titles and ad campaigns that lift his phrases to figures of speech we use every day. He is our primary literary point of reference. In recent years, the world’s greatest writer has once again assumed the status of pop icon. Ask any teen. In three words, Shakespeare is cool.  Inspired by all this, and the fact that no one else has had the idea or the resources to pull it off, Rhino has compiled the first comprehensive collection of recordings and excerpts from classic performances of Shakespeare’s plays and poems on six CDs/cassettes. Discs 1 through 4 explore a multitude of themes, from humanity and love to betrayal and rage, and discs 5 and 6 contain a complete recording of the classic Romeo And Juliet. The featured actors include Sir Laurence Olivier, Sir John Gielgud, Elizabeth Taylor, Orson Welles, Vanessa Redgrave, John Barrymore, Richard Burton, Rex Harrison, and Paul Robeson, among others. In addition, the accompanying booklet contains extensive essays, capsule descriptions of each play, track-by-track notes, as well as a suggested reading list and recommended Web sites. In short, the Bard’s “greatest hits”!

Selection # 75816