If there’s one writer whose work translates spectacularly to audio format, it’s the Bard. Hearing Shakespeare’s dialog masterfully performed by professionals with the correct emphasis and tone can make all the difference in catching every clever joke and innuendo, picking up on subtle foreshadowing, and sometimes even understanding the plot itself.
Taking into account both the most well-known of Shakespeare’s plays and the most well-performed adaptations for audio, here are our choices for the best Shakespeare audiobooks to add to your library today.
It should come as no surprise that Hamlet occupies a spot on our list, as it is widely considered one of Shakespeare’s best plays. (In fact, some would argue it is the greatest play of all time...but we’ll leave you to decide that on your own). A multilayered tragic drama of love, lust, power, and revenge, Hamlet follows the events that take place after a young prince learns that his recently deceased father was murdered by his uncle, the treacherous Claudius, who now sits on the late king’s throne. The Folger Shakespeare Library’s audio adaptation does the work absolute justice, with a full cast of players, both men and women, as well as sound effects to help spark the listener’s visual imagination. This lovingly rendered production will hold up to even the most exacting Shakespeare aficionado’s standards.
Jealousy is the green-eyed monsterand
wear my heart upon my sleeve.A full cast of talented voice actors makes Iago’s complex net of intentional misunderstandings easy to follow, and each cast member’s emotional performance ensures the impact of the jealousy, rage, and ultimate regret at the foundation of this classic.
Scottish Play,as it's widely known among those who’ve performed it, is shrouded in an air of the unnatural—evidenced by not only actors refusing to refer to it by name for fear of superstitious consequences but also the eerie, otherworldly aura that permeates the work itself. Narrated in part by a trio of witches, *Macbeth* is the story of a man who, at the urging of his nefarious wife, murders a king in order to seize his throne. But instead of finding fortune and contentment in power, Macbeth is driven to madness by guilt and fear. A comparatively quick listen at just over two hours, *Macbeth*’s brevity only serves to heighten its impact as a tragic fable about morality, power, and hubris.
Et tu, Brute,
Friends, Romans, countrymen,and
It was Greek to me,among the most famous—as well as some of his greatest character development and tragic irony. As always, the Folger Theatre’s full-cast adaptation ensures that every plot twist and turn of phrase lands perfectly, making this easily one of the best ways to experience the Bard’s classic.
Any Shakespeare enthusiast will recognize the names narrating this selection immediately, as all are among the ranks of the most decorated Shakespearean actors in all of Britain. (Those less familiar with Shakespearean actors may recognize Kenneth Branagh as Professor Gilderoy Lockhart of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets fame.) The cast members of this recording have built their careers on performing and interpreting Shakespeare’s works thousands of times over, and their expertise in producing this audio adaptation is second to none. In King Lear, the titular monarch's attempts to divide his kingdom fairly among his three daughters are foiled by the jealous manipulation of two of his children—and his own susceptibility to their obvious flattery. As a whole, King Lear stands as a searing indictment of narcissism, greed, and just plain foolishness.
At long last, one of Shakespeare’s comedies appears on our list, and it’s a listen unlike any other: Twelfth Night is the funniest and most well-written of his works in the genre. The play is an altogether hilarious romantic comedy of errors, driven by gender-bending mistaken identities and hopelessly unrequited love. The cast once again features some of the UK’s most prominent Shakespearean actors, including Laurence Olivier Award-winning actor Julian Glover and Jonathan Firth (an accomplished performer in his own right, as well as the brother of Academy Award-winning actor and Audie Award-winning narrator, Colin Firth). Through a plot driven by intentional deceptions and confusions of identity, the cast’s brilliant character acting brings every nuance and innuendo into detailed focus, resulting in a hilarious audio experience.
Chock-full of all of the elements that make the Bard’s more lighthearted fare great, A Midsummer Night’s Dream brings together magic, cunning, love, jealousy...and one truly dismal play put on by a troupe of hopelessly incompetent actors being manipulated by the fairies that inhabit the forest in which the story is set. The Folger’s Theatre players’ voice acting is stellar as always, but it’s the gleeful, dynamic performance of the sly sprite Puck that truly makes this adaptation soar.
Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy that can also be read as a sly satire highlighting the absurdity inherent in the infatuation stages of young romance. The Folger Library’s full-cast production is acted to perfection, with Romeo and Juliet’s frantic infatuation played at a veritable fever pitch, while Mercutio, the Nurse, and the rest of the cast provide the dry wit and juxtapositional irony for which Shakespeare is famous. And as Shakespeare’s shortest play, it’s just barely over two hours in length, making it easy to digest in the span of an afternoon.
If written today, The Tempest might be described as a dark comedy. The play begins when Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan, harnesses his supernatural powers to cause a violent storm at sea to shipwreck a vessel carrying, among others, the brother who usurped his position more than a decade ago. With the intention of restoring himself and his daughter to their rightful positions, Prospero’s shipwreck sets in motion an unexpected series of events, including a comically ill-fated plot against his own life. If this cocktail of dramatic intrigue weren’t enough, the cast is led by the incomparable Sir Ian McKellen as Prospero, making this adaptation of The Tempest an irresistible listen.
a pound of fleshin lieu of timely repayment. Played by a skilled cast of Shakespearean actors (you may recognize Bill Nighy from his roles in *Emma* and *Love Actually*, among other films), *The Merchant of Venice* allows the listener to laugh and be looped into the lush world of Renaissance Venice while pondering important questions about the long-lasting wounds of cultural bias.
More Listens for Shakespeare Fans
spell-binding,
vivid,and
just perfect,this retelling does tribute to the Bard's original drama while adding a thoughtful, modern flair and commentary.
Nordic Noir,with dark and thrilling crime novels like [The Snowman](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Snowman-Audiobook/B004VFMU26) and [The Bat](https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Bat-Audiobook/B00CP6SVEE) keeping thousands of listeners on the edge of their seats. So, it's only fitting that Nesbø shared his take on one of Shakespeare's most grim plays. His Macbeth modernizes the tale, shifting the setting to a crime-ridden industrial town in the 1970s. Here, Duncan is not the King of Scotland but the chief of police, and Hectate not a conniving, soothsaying witch but a sinister drug lord set on manipulating head of SWAT Inspector Macbeth.
Ask anyone who's ever studied a Shakespearean work, whether it be in the classroom or for their own pleasure, and they'll tell you that deciphering the Bard's intent isn't always simple. Luckily, this Great Courses guide to reading and understanding Shakespeare makes the process a whole lot easier. Over the course of 24 lectures, this listen shares tips and tools for better understanding a play's narrative and grasping each and every detail, so you can ultimately enjoy listening to Shakespeare's masterpieces even more.