She Speaks! (B Paperback): What Shakespeare's Women Might Have Said

Book Specification

ISBN: 9780349018935

Pages: 320

Book Cover: Paperback

Book Overview

“It is STUNNING and I simply sat and read it right through, and shall start again at once. I had no idea that she is such a sensationally fine poet. Astonishing.” — Joanna Lumley

“Harriet Walter unpicks and re-centres the inner life and journey of these women as only one of our most talented and celebrated classical actors could. A must read!” — Maxine Peake

“Bold and original … Anyone who cares about Shakespeare will want to own and share this book.” — James Shapiro

Dame Harriet Walter, renowned for her performances in Succession and Killing Eve and one of Britain’s most esteemed Shakespearean actors, presents a unique literary work that gives voice to Shakespeare’s women. Having played most of the Bard’s female characters, she now lets these women speak their minds—sometimes playfully, sometimes searchingly—in new parts written in Shakespearean verse and prose.

Within the pages, you’ll hear:

Gertrude telling Hamlet the unvarnished truth

Lady Macbeth reflecting on her regrets

Kate, the Shrew, challenging societal norms

Juliet’s nurse speaking candidly to the nobility

Cleopatra’s handmaiden revealing her mistress’s secrets

Ariel’s fear of freedom

Ophelia’s surprising depth

Olivia’s unexpected self-discovery

The Witches having a rousing rap

Harriet Walter explains: “I worship Shakespeare. His psychological insight is second to none but the mirror that he held up to nature reflected a predominantly male image of the world. I pondered the long shadow of his genius and tried to think of ways to let a little sunlight in on some of his women’s stories. I like to think he wouldn’t mind.”

This book is an audacious, insightful exploration of Shakespeare’s women—an essential read for lovers of literature and theatre alike.