Download or read book Shakespearean Afterlives written by John O'Connor and published by Icon Books. This book was released on 2003 with total page 392 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From art to advertising, psycology to politics, opera to cinema, Shakespeare's stories and characters have found an enduring place in our consciousness, enjoying 'afterlives' as rich and varied as their original incarnations in the playhouse. This book is a cultural biography of Shakespeare's most famous characters. From Shylock to the Shrew, Richard the Third to Romeo - via Shakespeare in Love and West Side Story - it charts the many and various existences that these characters have led outside the pages of the First Folio. Each chapter offers an original perspective on a well-known character, examining their role in the play, their history in performance and their intriguingly kaleidoscopic life in the popular consciousness. Featuring interviews with actors and directors, this book is for 'the great Variety of Readers' who enjoy their Shakespeare and are intrigued by the seemingly endless capacity of his characters for re-invention and reincarnation.