**NO AFFILIATE LINKS. JUST LINKS**
**WARNING!!** Possible Spoilers. I can’t help myself when I try to convey a point, but I’ll put ** before and after what could be spoilers.
Welcome, dear reader!
I haven’t done one of these posts in a while. And by deduction, I haven’t read much since early last year. What better way to start reading than a book from our home library and a favourite author!
I was introduced to this particular book when we used the Ambleside Online suggestions for the Charlotte Mason Curriculum in our homeschool journey.
Book details: Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare BY E Nesbit (William Shakespeare)
TITLE - Beautiful Stories from Shakespeare
AUTHOR - E Nesbit (William Shakespeare)
GENRE - Children's Fiction; Anthology;
YEAR PUBLISHED - 2006
PAGE COUNT - 262
RATING ELSEWHERE - 4.1 TO 4.6 Stars
The edition I read
2006 Paperback edition
ISBN 978-1599150291
Published by Yesterday's Classics, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
MY RATING - 3 Stars
Description on Google Books
Beautiful Stories From Shakespeare by E. Nesbit: This enchanting collection brings to life some of William Shakespeare’s most beloved plays through captivating storytelling. E. Nesbit skillfully retells the timeless tales, making them accessible to readers of all ages and immersing them in the beauty and depth of Shakespeare’s works.
My initial thoughts and what I expected
I expected a watered-down version of Shakespeare. I expected a dumbing down of Shakespeare’s prose. I basically expected versions of Shakespeare’s works.
Shakespeare is credited with an incredible amount of ‘new’ words and sayings. I love the whit and humor with which he both compliments and insults the powers that be in that particular time in history. I came to know Shakespeare as a master political commentator. I find it also fascinating that he didn’t lose his head because of his open criticism.
Oops! Wrong country…
But you know what I mean. Life was fickle. Much like it is today, I suppose.
‘The joke,’ he said, ‘is as invisinle as a weathercock on a steeple.’
Two Gentlemen of Verona
What says I about BEAUTIFUL STORIES FROM SHAKESPEARE by E NESBIT
That brings me to this book, then.
This book is a republishing of the 1907 edition. According to the publisher, this edition is an unabridged edition of that publication. And that I can’t fault.
As for the author, I love E Nesbit’s writing.
What I found in reading this book is that it’s not really Shakespeare. It’s not the ‘difficult’ language. It’s not the ‘pithy’ and snide commentary that I know and love so much of Shakespeare. I also found the stories rushed. Details are shirked in some way. It did allow for some interesting debrief conversations with my kiddos when they also tried to figure out how we got to the particular conclusion of the stories.
BUT before you hate on me, this is written for our little people. And little people don’t even use the English language like their grandparents, so Shakespeare will most definitely not land even close to our young ones. And their ability to maybe fill in the ‘next logical step’ is probably not that sharp yet. So the fantastical, ‘she just fell madly in love, and they lived happily ever after,’ will be completely plausible. My very critical thinkers, with their own love for great literature, the classics and Shakespeare, definitely gauged that the stories were ‘dumbed down’.
This book is generally classified as a middle school age group, which I believe is around 12 to 15 years old. Sadly, I would disagree, since most of the kiddos I know in this age group will probably miss the stories in total. I would say young adults will probably understand it better.
However, if Shakespeare is new to you. And you are aware that his use of English is wildly different from the contemporary use of our language, please read this book.
Shakespeare loved to apply leaps of creative liberty to resolving conflict or outsmarting opponents, or securing the affection of a love interest. He most definitely did not take the logical paths and conventional steps to end his stories, and that is definitely different from contemporary authors. E Nesbit managed to stay true to that.
AND OF COURSE, anything to get young ones into Shakespeare! Readers shirk on their Shakespearean exposure and I think one’s definitely poorer for it. Therefore, please read this book!
It’s a quick read. It’s an easy read. And Shakespeare’s unique contribution to the English language do actually shine through in many of the stories.
They were both rich, and I suppose they were as sensible, in most things, as other rich people.
Romeo & Juliet
What says others
‘Gorgeous retelling. Perfect for children becoming acquainted with Shakespeare, Living Book Press
‘Get acquainted with Shakespeare’s beautiful stories in this easy to read/ easy to listen to book.’ Goodreads
Some other feedback on the Nesbit and other editions Well Trained Mind
The women replied only by vanishin, as though suddenly mixed with air.
Macbeth
Where to find the author and other books I read by the author
Unfortunately the author, E Nesbit. is long since not in this world anymore but you can read more about her on the Wikipedia page.
The Edith Nesbit Society has their social calendar updated with 2026 events for those in the UK
Books by Women did a feature on E Nesbit in 2019.
And then of course, Mr William Shakespeare himself, has a home on WilliamShakespeare.net and Shakespeare.org.uk. On most historical and reference website you’ll find some information about him as well.
Where to buy this book
- South Africa
- Second hand : AbeBooks;
- Available for free: Heritage History, LibriVox, ProjectGutenburg
- Directly from the publisher
- Libraries: Open Library, OverDrive
And that is it from me for now
Until next time sweet peeps!
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Read in 2026