Three Cheers for Julius Caesar and SmartPass

I wish this had been around when I was in college. It is absolutely riveting. If you liked Shakespeare before you will appreciate it even more. If you were intimidated by Shakespeare you will find a new friend. There is a natural ebb and flow from the recited lines of the play by the twenty plus actors (yes I counted them) back to the guide who walks you through by gently pointing out the meaning of obscure words or phrases and by providing the historical backdrop that is sorely needed to appreciate the play. You get into the characters' mindset and actually feel an emotional bonding with them whether love or hate. For the grand finale you get a summary of the plot and some review questions for a potential exam. This recording will be enjoyed by college students and the general public. You won't be disappointed!

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From the Desk of a High School English Teacher

Should you now be, or might you have once been, a student who proclaimed not to grasp Shakespeare, this is a wonderful listen that will add to your understanding of this play, and assist in helping you to comprehend why your instructor likely is or was head over heels about this play. The presentation of the play is complete and authentic. You have the opportunity to hear the play read by actors, straightforwardly and without commentary, or you may choose to listen as the play is read by actors and interjected with explanation and interpretation. Commentary is made often but does not interrupt the flow of the play. Explanations are very complete and are not limited to paraphrasing. Historical information is included as well as insight into the characters, their motivations and importance, and even into Shakespeare's stagecraft. Suggestions for note-taking and possible essay ideas also assist in the study of the play and its themes.

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Shakespeare's First Great Play

If you could sum up SmartPass Plus Audio Education Study Guide to Julius Caesar (Dramatised, Commentary Options) in three words, what would they be?

Great, bloody, dramatic.

What did you like best about this story?

What I liked best about this story was Shakespeare's craftsmanship as a storyteller and a dramatist. He was far ahead of his time. His plays are unsurpassed for their beauty, language, and tragedy. If a production of "Julius Caesar" comes to town, I can see it with confidence after having listened to SmartPass' dramatization and commentary.

What about the narrators’s performance did you like?

I love the use of multiple actors to bring the story to life. An added treat are the women actors given that in Shakespeare's era women actors were banned from the stage and men played all of the women roles. It was great listening to real women and how Shakespeare accomplished writing in depth and complicated female characters even though he never saw a woman perform them.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The moment in the book that particularly moved me was the Roman Senate's assassination of Julius Caesar. I felt every knife blow and wanted to say "Et tu, Brute?" The assassination was vivid and violent. It stays with me.The perpetrators are right--people will reenact the assassination on stage for centuries.

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