Shakespeare's Tales: A Midsummer Night's Dream

By Samantha Newman and Ceej Rowland

Four young lovers escape into the woods outside Athens, each hoping to find true love and happiness. Instead, they find fairy mischief and love potions! Everyone is confused about who likes who - and has the Queen of the Fairies fallen in love with a donkey?

This classic comedy has been retold and adapted with new illustrations, making it perfect for younger readers. Adapted by Samantha Newman, it will enthral young readers of 7+.

ABOUT THE SERIES: Shakespeare's Tales brings the Bard's timeless stories to life for a younger generation, with wit and panache. Samantha Newman's cleverly reworked text retains many of Shakespeare's own inimitable turns of phrase, while simplifying and clarifying the language and plots to make stories accessible to children. Perfect for children aged 7+.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcturus Publishing
• Release date: Jul 1, 2022
• ISBN: 9781398818156

Book preview

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A Midsummer Night's Dream

A William Shakespeare Tale

Retold by Sam Newman

Illustrated by Ceej Rowland

Note to Parents

Shakespeare’s plays sometimes contain difficult themes. We have handled these sensitively, but would recommend that younger children in particular read the stories aloud with a trusted adult, so that they can discuss anything that causes them concern.

Titles in This Series:

1. The Comedy of Errors

2. Love’s Labour’s Lost

3. A Midsummer Night’s Dream

4. Romeo and Juliet

5. The Merchant of Venice

6. Much Ado About Nothing

7. As You Like It

8. Hamlet

9. Twelfth Night

10. Othello

11. All’s Well That Ends Well

12. King Lear

13. Macbeth

14. Antony and Cleopatra

15. The Winter’s Tale

16. The Tempest

Contents

Act One

Act Two

Act Three

Act Four

Act Five

Act One

Once, the city of Athens in Greece was ruled over by Duke Theseus. The duke was about to marry Hippolyta, the queen of the Amazons, and everything was being prepared for their wedding day. They were interrupted by a man name Egeus.

Duke Theseus, I need your help, said Egeus with a frown on his face. This is my daughter, Hermia.

A pretty young woman stepped out from behind him looking sullen.

And this is Demetrius. He pointed at a handsome young man, who wore a slightly awkward expression.

And this rogue is Lysander.

Another young man, even more handsome than Demetrius, stepped forward. He defiantly glared at Egeus.

Demetrius is a fine man, Egeus went on. "I have given him permission to marry my daughter. But then Lysander came over with silly gifts and love poems. I don’t approve of him and I told him to stay away from Hermia, but he won’t and now she is in love with him. She says she won’t marry Demetrius