All the more reason to read them before watching it, because if they're not an easy read it'll probably also be difficult to follow the films without any knowledge about what's going on.

So what do you recommend to read then?

Yes. And maybe read something on Wikipedia about the background and the most important characters. If you know what the Wars of the Roses were about, you will understand the plays much better. 

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosenkriege

Last edited by SusiGo (May 5, 2014 9:34 am)

And in general, there's lots and lots of secondary literature around about all the plays, the characters... "Who's who bei Shakespeare" (German) for example gives a nice overview over all the important characters in his plays. 
 

If you feel like some serious homework, I highly reccomend Issac Asimov's Guide to Shakespeare. 

http://www.amazon.com/ASIMOVS-GUIDE-SHAKESPEARE-ITALIAN-Complete/dp/B00165SCV2/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1399291142&sr=1-2&keywords=isaac+asimov+shakespeare

It's a fantastic resourse.

Besley, I hope you and your Husband don't go to those reenactment society things - could prove awkward!!;)

Am currently watching The Hollow Crown - I loved Richard II, and I've just finished Henry IV part one, which I wasn't quite as keen on, but the casting is excellent so I'm really excited about what they'll do with the next instalment.
I notice the original series wasn't particularly faithful to hairstyles etc., (Tom Hiddledtone's for instance is nothing like the style that Henry V is depicted as having), so I'm curious as to how Benedict will look as Richard.
I really enjoyed reading the play but it is very cruel in it's portrayal of King Richard - I'm so excited to see this; I just wish we didn't have so long to wait!

Yes, it was excellent. I think 2H4 was the weakest part but then the play is not that good. Still, I liked to watch it for the actors who are brilliant. And it is interesting to see Hal's development from dissolute prince to king. Maybe we will see a bit of that in Richard III, too. And I would not mind if they went for a not quite so faithfuly hairstyle. 

Yes, the red leather thing looked gorgeous. 

I can't wait to see this. Hollow Crown was briliant and St. Crispen's Day Speech in Henry V was so well played by Tom with his full of emotions and brave tone (altough Kenneth Branagh version was magnificent too). I love this speach so much that I even learned it by heart

besleybean wrote:

It's funny having been born and raised in England and fed this culture and history...you forget others haven't had the same advantage!

I envy you sometimes because Shakespeare is magnificent poet and yet in my country he is not that much popular that sometimes it's hard to get his less famous plays. In my country there is lots of great poets but I think none of them is so famous around the world like Shakespeare.

SusiGo wrote:

I am glad that in Germany Shakespeare is very popular and has been for centuries. So we get to see quite a lot of productions and more or less all films are available. Near the place where I am living there is even a modern copy of the Globe theatre where they have a Shakespeare Festival each summer. 

We few, we happy few … 

That's wonderful Susi!  Have you ever been?  I've only been to one Shakespeare festival but what a week that was!  Saw 2 or 3 plays a day for 6 days.  Thought I'd died and gone to heaven!

Here in Atlanta, Georgia we have a wonderful place downtown called Shakespeare's Tavern where they do dinner theatre.  No huge budgets but they do get some quality talent.