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This was magnificent! A series of interviews of Judi Dench on her long career as a Shakespearean actress. She just adores Shakespeare and had an absolutely phenomenal career. Her enthusiasm comes out along with her insight in to playing these roles. So many major performances and she embraced them and the texts so deeply. I can't recommend this highly enough to anyone who feels that Shakespeare love. Especially our #Shakespearereadalong veterans.

My new audiobook. Dench is magnificent. She‘s about 90 now. And while we must suffer through another reader reading her words (a good reader), her answers have been sparkling through my 1st hour - on Lady Macbeth and on Stratford-upon-Avon. Old #shakespearereadalong peeps - you will want to check this out.

Reading this, hearing Judi Dench‘s voice in my head, makes me want to reread every Shakespeare play, and watch the RSC productions online. I wish I‘d had it nearby as we read them in the #shakespearereadalong days!

I thoroughly enjoyed the #shakespearereadalong of yore, even though life got in the way and I drifted away a few plays in. I‘m taking my kids to see their first Shakespeare this year (in Stratford-upon-Avon, at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, I‘m so excited, haven‘t been for years!) and feel a reignited passion! I‘ve decided to set myself a year of Shakespeare, following the old format of an act or two a week. Starting here- let‘s see how it goes!

"Still more Shakespearian is the scene of the pearl. Cleopatra, enthroned in state at the banqueting-table, lifts one hand to drop the jewel into her goblet, and in her gesture and her smile are summed up all the cruel grace of the 'false soul of Egypt'". Love it when words collide, in this case #WhartonBuddyRead & #ShakespeareReadAlong ? @Graywacke

The detail in this painting ? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Banquet_of_Cleopatra_(Tiepolo)

I‘ve been dipping in and out of these sonnets in leisure, (and in mood), sometimes listening to Patrick Stewart‘s recitals, other times reading the text then with the help of a reading guide. In such a concise structure with fixed pattern verses, so much emotional depth can be found, it just amazes me. I don‘t understand them all or enjoyed each of them, but the rich language, and wit of some of them are a pleasure to read and return to in future.

Hey #shakespearereadalong gang, what‘s a good, readable, biography of Edward III? I‘m particularly interested in his personal life, not his wars, and nothing sleep-inducingly academic. Thanks in advance. @GingerAntics @merelybookish @Graywacke