welcome to
 Aussiereviews.com

Google Custom Search
 
  Reviewing the best of Australian books, films, music websites and more.

Home
See All Reviews
Free update
Links
Feedback
Link to us

see all...





Fishpond



www.fishpond.com.au

Aussie Authors
Links to Australian authors on the net.
Picture Books
See all reviews for children's picture books.
Children's Books
See all reviews of children's novels and chapter books.
Young Adult Fiction
See all reviews of young adult titles.
Fiction
See all reviews of adult fiction.
Nonfiction
See all reviews of non-fiction titles.
DVD and Video
See all video and DVD reviews.
Music and Software
See all music and software reviews.
Educational texts
See all reviews of educational texts.
Audiobooks
See all reviews of audiobook titles.

  

YA Book Review: Hamlet, by John Marsden
Reviewed by Sally Murphy

To be or not to be. That is still the question.



Horatio stared at him. The flickering light of the candles in the dark draughty room made the prince’s face almost demonic. Through the cloverleaf window in the stone wall Bernardo saw one distant star. Then it went out.
Hamlet was staring back at Horatio.
At last Horatio said, ‘We think we saw your father.’

Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. Hamlet’s father, the king, has died, and Hamlet’s mother has quickly remarried, to the new king, Hamlet’s uncle. But Hamlet has been visited by the ghost of his father, who claims he has been murdered and urges Hamlet to take revenge.

This is not a new story – it is, of course, a retelling of the famous play by Shakespeare. Master writer John Marsden remoulds the story staying true to the plot of the play but rediscovering the characters, giving them depth, and retouching the events to give them further layers. Fans of the play will not feel cheated by the changes, but will rather be delighted by the interpretation, whilst those new to the play will enjoy the story for its own sake.

Masterly.

Hamlet, by John Marsden
Text Publishing, 2008

 Sponsored by:

The Floatingest Frog, by Sally Murphy, illustrated by Simon Bosch
Available now from Fishpond.


The Big Blowie, by Sally Murphy
Available online from Blake Education.