Listening order for Shakespeare?

[kate_nepveu]

If I were planning to listen to full-cast recordings of all 38 of Shakespeare's plays, what order would you recommend I do it in? Chronological order, chronological order except with the histories in historical order, thematic, worst-to-best, something else?

If it matters, I've read Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, and part of King Lear (the class hated it so much we talked our teacher out of finishing it); and seen one version or another of Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Winter's Tale. And The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Abridged. I think that's it.

Comments

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

Are you really planning on doing that? I hope you report on it.

I wouldn't go in strict chronological order, because you'll end up with several less-than-good plays in a row. Loose chronological order, however, might be interesting because you'll see how his writing improves, how he tries versions of certain characters and themes early on and then does them better later.

For instance, I would conclude with The Tempest, which may not technically be his last but thematically works as a conclusion. And I would begin with one of his better early plays, like The Comedy of Errors or Richard III, rather than slogging through all three Henry VI plays, which might put you off the entire project.

[kate_nepveu]

I'm not _planning_ on it, but it's a definite possibility at this point. I'm putting most audiobooks on the booklog as well, and this would definitely get written up.

I was thinking of loosely following this timeline: http://www.bardweb.net/plays/timeline.html , which would put _The Comedy of Errors_ first.

I am surprised that _The Tempest_ *isn't* his last; _Sandman_ very much warped my brain on that one.

[signy1.livejournal.com]

'The Tempest' is his last solo work. It may even be his last work-- I don't think anyone's really sure if the apocrypha (like 'Cardenio' or 'Two Noble Kinsmen,' which I highly recommend, by the way,) are even partially his.

My personal feeling on his works is that some of his plays are pure hell to get through, and you might want to save some of the ones you know you'll like as a reward for getting through the clunkers.