The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 19.0461  Wednesday, 13 August 2008

From:       Sophie Masson <
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Date:       Saturday, 26 Jul 2008 08:21:02 +1000
Subject:    Novelization of Hamlet

I've just reviewed, for an Australian newspaper (The Weekend Australian) a new 
novelisation of Hamlet by the popular writer for young adults, John Marsden. It 
really is a novelisation, rather than a novel inspired by, but it also has a 
different take on Hamlet himself, which I didn't much take to -- he verges on 
the psychopathic -- It mixes Shakespeare's words (paraphrased) with modern 
interjections which can be somewhat jarring. An interesting attempt, but rather 
flawed. Anyway, readers can soon judge for themselves: the book is released at 
the end of August. My review will appear in a few weeks' time.

I've written YA novels inspired by Shakespeare myself -- Cold Iron (Midsummer 
Night's Dream), The Tempestuous Voyage of Hopewell Shakespeare (Twelfth Night 
and The Tempest), Malvolio's Revenge (no prizes for guessing!), and the 
forthcoming (2009) The Madman of Venice (ditto.)

Sophie Masson

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