Everyday Shakespeare

Lines for Life

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Pub Date 25 May 2023 | Archive Date 05 Sep 2023

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Description

Publisher note: Not all is as it seems on the cover. What nods to the Bard's great works can you spy?

Shakespeare had an ear and hand that were able to capture our everyday thoughts and emotions, pin them to a page, and express them so well that still today they can make us feel stunned to be seen.

'Better three hours too soon than a minute too late.'
'Make not your thoughts your prisons.'
'Wisely and slow. They stumble that run fast.'
'And I have heard it said, unbidden guests are often welcomest when they're gone.'

With a quote for every day of the year, this beautiful book gathers the finest lines from the lesser-known corners of Shakespeare's plays and poems. While you may not be familiar with these 400-year-old phrases, you will be surprised by the immediate, easy resonance they have with modern day-to-day life and, hopefully, inspired to learn a few quotes, say them out loud, and drop them into conversation.

Each page bears a gift of Shakespearean delight - around which lies a treasure trove of trivia, miscellaneous fact, and opportunities for reflection.

The Crystals - son and father - draw attention to points of daily life, literary, linguistic, and theatrical interest through their entertaining commentary. They offer notes of context for anyone who wants to know who originally said the words, in which play, and why. And finally, the authors provide three indexes, allowing readers to help find the right quote for a task, or to follow-up on a quote's original source.

Shakespeare's words are a mirror for us to peer into, to see if any part of ourselves, familiar or strange, is visible. Each day as you read his lines, you'll get glimpses of loves you've known, jealousies you've felt, relationships you've had, and situations you've encountered that bring a smile - or a wince - of familiarity.

Everyday Shakespeare shares the simple lines that encapsulate the wondrous complexity of life, and the enduring appeal of the Bard.

Shakespeare was not of an age, but for all time. - Ben Jonson

Publisher note: Not all is as it seems on the cover. What nods to the Bard's great works can you spy?

Shakespeare had an ear and hand that were able to capture our everyday thoughts and emotions, pin...


Advance Praise

If Shakespeare had written no plays or sonnets and created no characters, the superbly chosen words that the Crystals have chosen for this daily calendar would send him to the very summit of invention, imagination, insight, wit and inspiration. An absolutely joyous, gasp-out-loud achievement. 

-Stephen Fry

If Shakespeare had written no plays or sonnets and created no characters, the superbly chosen words that the Crystals have chosen for this daily calendar would send him to the very summit of...


Available Editions

EDITION Other Format
ISBN 9781399809337
PRICE £16.99 (GBP)
PAGES 400

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Average rating from 61 members


Featured Reviews

I think that Shakespeare is food for thought. This daily collection of daily quotes gives a chance to taste the power, wit, and wisdom of WS's poems and plays. The idea is to cover areas of life that are significant for all of us and are expressed in language that is always striking, effective, and memorable. We can chew on a single daily quotation in context every day, or we can also browse through book at random. Whichever choice the student or the simple reader will find something that will inspire, intrigue and amuse.

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Oh, boy... this book is masterpiece! I truly appreciate that kind of content, When You made some kind of quote reflexions about an author's titles and extract lessons and something We can apply in our day by day. And Shakespeare has A LOT of good quotes the reader can get caught up in the learning. The narrative is clear, intuitve and easy to be read each day, as it is it's purpose. Well Done!

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I am a long time fan of Shakespeare and this is an accessible way for those who may not be as familiar to get into his work. I enjoyed that it was a line a day for a year and I liked the explanation of where it comes from.

I agree with some other readers that the introduction was a bit wordy and could have been much shorter.

Overall I think this is a great collection.

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Ben Crystal's Shakespeare on Toast was a sweet revelation for me. Someone who never read Shakespeare in high school seriously apart from the abridged stories based on the plays, Shakespeare on Toast invited me to enjoy the feast that is the playwright's body of work. So, I couldn't be happier to have an advanced copy of Everyday Shakespeare with quotes from the plays for each day of the Gregorian calendar. Suffice it to say, the pages look spectacular with the selections on top, the pertaining context near the bottom, and a greyed-out serif typography printed that tells us the name of the source. Now, a long wait till September to buy this book.

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Everyday Shakespeare : Lines for Life is a collection of daily quotes from the bards' poems and plays. A long introduction to the format of the book is given but you can skip it if you find it a bit lengthy and go straight for the quotes. Each one can be absorbed, mulled over and enjoyed for the memorable and meaningful insight it provides. It is a lovely coffee table book and would also make a great gift for Shakespeare lovers.

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As a Shakespeare lover, I adore the concept of this book. It’s a book I could easily see myself keeping on the side of my desk or on a coffee table, reaching for it during that time of day when I suddenly remember, “Oh! What is today’s Shakespeare quote?” I could also see it working well as a memorization tool for Shakespeare fans; selecting one quote a day to read and focus on is a great way to build up one’s arsenal of reference quotes over time. People who love Shakespeare can appreciate this book as a tool for that. It reminded me of a similar book called A YEAR AND A DAY OF EVERYDAY WITCHCRAFT, which assigns a “witchy” element or trivia to each day of the year for a reader to apply and reflect on.

The introductory pages felt a bit long-winded, particularly the “discovery on every page” section. I found myself wanting more economy of writing and less extensive explanation regarding how the layout of the book functions, how poetry functions. “We believe the quotes on these pages can speak for themselves.” So let them, no? I also wondered if putting the passages about each month’s themes BEFORE each month might have worked better than lumping them all together in the introduction. But I guess that comes down to one’s preference regarding how a book is organized, how information is organized.

I really liked the little insights and explanations that the writers provided on each page below the quote. They always felt generous and to the point. The only thing I could have done without was the occasional “plug” of another quote(s) inside the interpretation. I felt those other quotes and play references pulled focus from the featured quote. At times, the extended explanations leaned too academic in tone, which I feel might turn off certain readers who just want to absorb the featured quote at face value, to absorb the suggested interpretation and leave the rest up to the reader’s thoughts and imagination. The pages I enjoyed most were the ones that kept it simple: the quote, a brief interpretation, and the context provided at the bottom of the page. I love that the authors left some quotes to speak for themselves with no explanation. That white space held a nice silence, a space to reflect and trigger one’s private interpretations.

If I saw this book in a store, I would buy it. I love Shakespeare, and I LOVE the idea of what this book is offering to Shakespeare fans.

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Everyday Shakespeare is a wonderful addition to my day. The Crystals provide wonderful context to Shakespeare's quotes allowing the reader to enjoy a line of the Bard's work daily. A wonderful addition to the shelf of both those well-versed in Shakespeare and others who are looking for an accessible entry point.

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This “quote a day” style book contained lesser known Shakespeare lines but I did enjoy the choices throughout. I loved the layout of the book with the quote, a short explanation of the quote and perhaps when to use it, and then an aside on what was going on during the play / writing the quote was pulled from.

Of course, I looked at the quote for my own birthday and that of those closest to me, and I am happy to say I liked those quotes the best, but that feels a little biased :). Overall, this is a good coffee table book to give to a friend or family member that might love “quote a day” books OR who loves Shakespeare. 4.5 Stars

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It is always fun to have a book that one can look at every single day. Here the quotes are all from the Bard and offer much food for thought and entertainment. With so many quotes, readers are sure to find old friends and new words both.

Both authors are experienced writers on Shakespeare and good guides in this title. It is worth the time to read their introduction.

I like that this title is organized the months by themes. For example, February, not surprisingly, gets love. The authors also do a good job of putting each quote in context.

This book would make a nice gift. I think that I will purchase the hard copy.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this title. All opinions are my own.

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I loved this! What an absolute treasure for Shakespeare lovers and those who are wanting to discover the timeless nuggets of wisdom that Shakespeare offers. This will be one to read over and over again. I also love all the background information included.

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I like this, i have already written down a few of my faves to write in cards and such. I like that the author is bringing back literary greatness for the everyday!

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Thank you to Ben Crystal, David Crystal, Nicholas Brealey US, Chambers, and Netgalley for this free advanced reader copy of "Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life" for an honest review.

This is a lovely little daily read focusing on a different Shakespeare quote with every turn of the calendar and turn of the page. It's a wonderful reminder of how much of Shakespeare truly exists already in our common daily English vernacular, vocabulary, and turns of phrase. This is a great little masterpiece gift for both fans of the Bard of Avon and beginners looking to wet their whistle in a very low-stakes fashion.

Definitely getting a copy for me and the girls in my reading circle!

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Everyday Shakespeare by Ben and David Crystal features a daily quote from the plays and poems of William Shakespeare.
The authors are respected scholars in the fields of linguistics and Shakespeare studies, and their expertise shines through. All the background information is here to make Shakespeare's words accessible to a modern reader.
I particularly like the fact that lesser-known quotations have been chosen so there is something new here for everyone.
The three indexes make it easy to navigate through the book.
This is a book to dip into on a daily basis throughout the year.
Highly recommended and deserving of 5 stars.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this title.. All opinions are my own.

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My mother is responsible for my love of Shakespeare. For as long as I can remember, she has read him, quoted him, and shared movie renditions of his work with me. Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing is a deeply nostalgic movie for me, and I remember campaigning hard in both high school and college for our class to read it instead of The Tempest. (I was successful in my college class!) It felt a bit like kismet when I had the opportunity to review Everyday Shakespeare: Lines for Life by Ben and David Crystal.

Crystal and Crystal's book reads like a unique devotional for the full year; indeed, this quote-a-day book has themes for every month, explanations for specific words no longer in current use, and insight into the specific verse of the day. I very much appreciated the blurb at the bottom of the page explaining the context in which the quote was used, and some of the unique fonts were a fun addition, as well.

This book is a perfect addition for any Shakespearean fan, quote collector, or just a reader looking to expand their mind and knowledge base. I was not aware of how much of the Bard's work I have yet to read, and so, thanks to this book, my To Be Read pile has grown quite a bit. I personally will be looking forward to seeing this book in physical form, and perhaps (shhhhhh, don't tell), gifting it to my mother. I know she would love it.

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So, I've almost never read anything but novels and was a bit skeptical starting this.
But these short lines of Shakespeare with explanations are enchanting. Obviously, Shakespeare is kind of like a god of books and his words will be the best. You can rekindle your love for literature here. There needs to be books like this.I read an Ebook but I think the experience will be much better with a physical copy. Go try it out.

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My family ,who are not tremendous Shakespeare fans, have had a great time with this book. Both the children and the adults have been reading it and using the quotes to great effect on the other members of the family and their friends. Not only highly educational but such good fun too ! Starting to love the bard much more now.

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I love Shakespeare's works. Like many, I was introduced to them at school, and the language and themes have entranced me to this day. There is always more to uncover in subsequent readings. Thoroughly enjoyed this piece.

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A charming resource for the middle school language arts classroom! Shakespeare seems so inaccessible to my students (they think) but this book, used as a small warm-up or icebreaker, would bring Shakespeare down to where they could sink their teeth into a little bit of him each day. I particularly loved the short vocab lesson accompanying some of the quotes, for Old English words or phrases that aren't in use any more.

Small constructive comment: the beginning did not whet the appetite, and may put off some readers. Such a long introduction when the whole point of the book is small bites of a big subject.

Thank you NetGalley for introducing me to this book, I hope to have a print copy to keep on my desk at school so I can work my way through the calendar with my students!

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Everyday Shakespeare is a wonderful collection of quotes to get you through the year. The authors provide a theme for each month and a quote for each day, along with an explanation. It's a really wonderful concept that provides more insight into both the characters from Shakespeare's plays and to language itself. Since Shakespeare has contributed so much to the English language, I found it interesting to see the notes with each quote and reflect on the linguistic considerations.

I highly recommend this book for fans of Shakespeare and linguistics.

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Everyday Shakespeare, written by Ben Crystal and David Crystal, is an absolute treasure that joyously celebrates the essence of Shakespeare. As an ardent Shakespeare enthusiast, this book resonated deeply with me, igniting my nerdy heart and leaving me with no choice but to bestow upon it a well-deserved five-star rating.

Shakespeare, my most cherished passion in the world, finds its rightful place within the pages of Everyday Shakespeare. From its opening lines, the book envelops readers in an immersive journey through the Bard's profound works, delivering an enchanting exploration that is both accessible and captivating.

What makes this book truly special is its ability to connect the timeless beauty of Shakespeare's words to our everyday lives. It reminds us that the Bard's genius transcends time and place, permeating our existence in ways we may not always realize. Through anecdotes, insights, and enlightening explanations, Ben and David Crystal breathe new life into the Bard's works, infusing them with relevance and relevance and relatability for modern readers.

Everyday Shakespeare speaks directly to the nerdy heart that beats within Shakespeare aficionados like myself. It embraces our unabashed adoration for the playwright, celebrating our unending fascination with his intricate characters, poetic language, and profound themes. The book serves as a delightful refuge, allowing us to revel in our shared enthusiasm and deepening our appreciation for Shakespeare's enduring impact.

Ben and David Crystal's love for Shakespeare radiates from the pages, creating an infectious enthusiasm that is hard to resist. Their deep knowledge and expertise shine through in every word, making the exploration of the Bard's works an engaging and enlightening experience. With their guidance, the book becomes a cherished companion, guiding readers through the vast landscape of Shakespeare's plays and sonnets with ease and enthusiasm.

Everyday Shakespeare is a resounding triumph for those whose hearts beat in iambic pentameter. It embraces our nerdy passions, reminding us that our love for Shakespeare is not merely an eccentricity but a testament to the Bard's everlasting brilliance. This book's ability to make our nerdy hearts sing and its unwavering dedication to celebrating Shakespeare's legacy make it an unequivocal five-star gem that every Shakespeare enthusiast should embrace with open arms. Prepare to be delighted, enlightened, and wholeheartedly swept away in the magic of Everyday Shakespeare.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me this book for an honest review!

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EVERYDAY SHAKESPEARE by father and son Ben and David Crystal is a rare, precious delight: a distillation of quotes from the breadth and depth of Shakespeare's works. Organized by themes, the daily quotes are ones not commonly known. Each quote is explored and explained in full with context, making this perhaps the richest and most accessible source of pithy and original thoughts to ponder. Their endeavor is clearly a labor of love and one that I heartily applaud and recommend. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

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I love how this book is setup.
Organised into months with each month having a theme.

Each page had a few lines from the works of Shakespeare, along with a brief explanation of context and meaning.

It's a great book for picking up in the morning and reading a daily prompt with your first coffee of the day.

This is a good starting point for those who perhaps only know Shakespeare from compulsory studies at school. This book guides you through his lesser known work and is a really enjoyable read.

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Fascinating stuff.
I may be a bit biased as I'm huge fans of both Ben and Dave, but they have made what could be described as a very subject, engrossing and fun!
It really is amazing how much of our modern language is influenced by just one man!

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