Much Ado About Nothing

Ranjit Bolt, an accomplished translator, updates Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing with a merry new translation, maintaining the humor, characterization, and wit that audiences know and love. This translation was part of the Oregon Shakespeare Festivals Play On! project, which commissioned new translations of thirty-nine Shakespeare plays to present work from "The Bard" in language accessible to modern audiences while never losing the beauty of Shakespeare's verse.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 130 pages
Publication date: 13 September 2022
Publisher: Arizona Center for Medieval & Renaissance Studies,US

In Shakespeare's renowned comedy, Much Ado About Nothing, a delightful web of miscommunications and misunderstandings ensues, leading two pairs of lovers to navigate the intricate maze of their words and emotions. Accomplished translator Ranjit Bolt takes on this timeless masterpiece, skillfully modernizing much of the archaic language while preserving the humor, depth, and wit that have delighted audiences for centuries. For contemporary readers, the characters of Beatrice, Benedick, Hero, and Claudio remain as captivating as ever, perhaps even more so with Bolt's fresh and witty interpretation.

This translation of Much Ado About Nothing is part of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Play On! project, an ambitious endeavor that seeks to bring Shakespeare's works to a modern audience in accessible and engaging language. The project involves the collaboration of a diverse group of contemporary playwrights, screenwriters, and dramaturges, each bringing their unique perspective to the reimagining of Shakespeare's plays for the twenty-first century. Through this project, Shakespeare's works are being published in print for the first time, marking a new First Folio for a new era.

Bolt's translation of Much Ado About Nothing is a testament to his talent and dedication to preserving the essence of Shakespeare's works. His meticulous attention to language and his ability to convey the humor and heart of the play while updating it for a modern audience make this translation a valuable addition to the Shakespearean canon. By offering a fresh perspective on these beloved characters and their comedic misadventures, Bolt invites readers to rediscover the timeless appeal of Shakespeare's plays and to appreciate the enduring power of his words.

Weight: 154g
Dimension: 195 x 128 x 8 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780866986885