Readers, it’s time to discuss Shakespeare’s The Tragedy of Macbeth! It’s been awhile since we discussed a Shakespeare play and we’re thrilled to be back with the Bard for spooky season to chat about witches, ghosts, murder, and betrayal.
In today’s episode, we talk about everything from Greek Tragedy to Game of Thrones. We get extra nerdy as we think about theatrical implications for adaptation, and (of course) we bring three pairings each to highlight contemporary themes of the play.
We can’t wait to hear what you would pair with Shakespeare’s shortest tragedy, and we hope to see you at tomorrow night’s book club discussion at 7 pm ET on Zoom.
You don’t need to be a Shakespearean scholar to enjoy this episode, nor do you need to read Macbeth first, so dive right in! Here are a few bonus resources to supplement your listening:
Macbeth: a timeless exploration of violence and treachery (The Conversation UK)
7 Best Macbeth Adaptations (Collider)
Film full of sound and fury in dark pandemic season (The Harvard Gazette)
Coming This November
We are thrilled to revisit The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald through the lens of adaptation theory in November. Want to read along with us? We’ll discuss The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo with our book club, and if you don’t want to re-read Gatsby (or if you do!), we’ll re-run our episode to help you review.
Our November learning event is “Office Hours” — a time for you to Ask Us Anything about adaptations, Austen, Shakespeare, Fitzgerald, or the reading life (or regular life!), book recommendations, and more. We will gather questions in advance and answer fresh questions in real time. This event will be recorded.
Behind the Scenes
We’ve been planning our winter content and a full spring semester full of literary education and fun. We can’t wait to reveal our classic selections! Patreon members will hear it first. Sign up to join our community for access to events, early announcements, and bonus episodes each week. Your continued support helps us maintain the show and provides us with the financial backing we need in order to keep creating fresh, fun, and educational content. Thank you!
We hope you’re reading something delightful this season, readers. After all, there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of anything than of a book.
Sara & Chelsey