This paper serves as an academic companion to the work. As Andrew Matthews' Hamlet (The Shakespeare Retellings) is a copyrighted work, the full text or PDF cannot be reproduced here. It is widely available through public libraries, school book fairs, and major retailers.
: You can find a digital version of this retelling at Archive.org or purchase it as an ebook on eBooks.com .
Why does Hamlet wait so long to kill Claudius? Matthews highlights the heavy psychological burden of taking a life, contrasting Hamlet’s overthinking nature with Laertes’ rash, immediate desire for revenge.
A 100-page physical book is heavy. A PDF of Hamlet by Andrew Matthews sits on a phone, tablet, or laptop. Students can read it on the bus or during a study hall. hamlet andrew matthews pdf
Provides the original text side-by-side with modern English.
The written word is powerfully complemented by the artwork of Tony Ross, one of the most popular and successful children’s illustrators in Britain, best known for illustrating the Horrid Henry series. Ross’s engaging black-and-white illustrations are dotted liberally throughout the text, breaking up the prose and providing visual cues for young readers. Described as "Quentin Blake-esque pen and ink illustrations," they are expressive, slightly humorous, and full of character, which helps to lighten the otherwise dark and heavy atmosphere of the tragedy. The interplay between Matthews’ accessible language and Ross’s lively drawings vividly brings the world of Elsinore to life, capturing the "beauty and power of the original plays" in a format that feels neither intimidating nor overly academic.
Read Matthews’ chapter first to fully understand the plot, motivations, and setting. Then, open Shakespeare's original text. You will find that the Elizabethan poetry becomes significantly easier to decipher once you already know exactly what the characters are trying to accomplish. This paper serves as an academic companion to the work
: The narrative emphasizes Hamlet’s isolation—he is the only one truly mourning while the rest of the court, including his mother Gertrude and uncle Claudius, have moved on to "celebrations" for a new marriage.
series, which retells the plays in modern, narrative prose to help students and new readers grasp the complex plots and themes before diving into the original verse. If you are looking for resources related to his version of
Through a series of tragic missteps, including the accidental murder of Polonius, the story spirals into a gripping, fatal duel that leaves the royal court of Denmark in ruins. : You can find a digital version of
: He isolates himself from everyone except his trusted friend, Conflict with Ophelia
Shakespeare’s works were written to be performed, not merely read, yet they have become a cornerstone of literary curricula worldwide. For students in Key Stages 2 and 3 (or middle school), the jump to Elizabethan English is often jarring. Andrew Matthews, a renowned children’s author, addresses this through his Shakespeare Retellings series. His version of Hamlet is not a translation, but a reinterpretation designed to capture the plot's momentum and emotional weight without the hindrance of iambic pentameter. This paper argues that Matthews’ version is not a replacement of the original, but a necessary scaffold that allows young readers to access the psychological depth of the Prince of Denmark.
Matthews’ prose shines a spotlight on the timeless themes that make Hamlet continuously relevant:
The story culminates in a deadly fencing match, leading to the downfall of the entire royal family. Core Themes Simplified