Crystal’s no-nonsense attitude and witty approach really make the book stand out… [Toast] should be required reading for actors, anyone doing English Literature at school or university, and the girls who spoiled the performance of The Merry Wives of Windsor I went to at the Globe this summer by whispering to each other that they couldn’t understand a word.
See here for the review in full…
Oliver Harris, at the TLS, didn’t particularly like Toast, which is fine by me – The TES, and every other reviewer has adored it, so I’m probably due some negatives.
Still, Harris did have this to say:
“[Crystal] is at his best when demonstrating the plays’ origins in the demanding world of early modern theatre.”
Hopefully have the full review up soon. Hopefully.
“Ben Crystal is a ‘restaurateur’ par excellance for serving up a seemingly simple snack that actually has enough complexity to delight a gourmet.”
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Crystal… succeeds in providing a pacey, informative and accessible ‘manual’ to Shakespeare… It is this infectious enthusiasm for all things Shakespeare that ensures the book remains fast paced and good humoured, sweeping the reader along through strategies which even had this drama-phobic reader chanting scenes aloud.
Click here to read the review in full…
The Glasgow Herald’s Colin Waters says Toast is
An excellent introductory text… Crystal is particularly good at explaining, with examples, how metre works.
The Bookbag’s Magda Healey reviewed Shakespeare on Toast recently. She had this to say:
Shakespeare on Toast is an excellent dish indeed… Highly recommended!
The full review can be found here…
Easily digested… Crystal’s bounding enthusiasm is hard to resist… A valuable book.
A fabulous review for Toast just in from the Shakespeare’s Globe magazine Around the Globe. The review in full can be found here…
Shakespeare on Toast is “a tasty snack with genius”.
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Shakespeare on Toast “adds up to a masterclass for modern beginners and old hands alike”.
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…has this to say about Toast…
Ben Crystal’s excellent book is an ideal way to gain an understanding of why Shakespeare is so brilliant, and so enjoyable.
