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A niche book but if you like Shakespeare or Judi Dench, you will probably love it. 🎭

Brendan O‘Hea conducted a series of interviews with Judi Dench, which were then edited down into this book. A fellow thespian and old friend, O‘Hea asks Dench about the many Shakespearean roles she has played in her over 70 years as an actress. She is opinionated, insightful, and snarky. And oh how she adores Shakespeare. This is for a very specific audience—theatre nerds and lovers of The Bard will find it delightful. Excellent audiobook.

My new audiobook. Dench is magnificent. She‘s about 90 now. And while we must suffer through another reader reading her words (a good reader), her answers have been sparkling through my 1st hour - on Lady Macbeth and on Stratford-upon-Avon. Old #shakespearereadalong peeps - you will want to check this out.

Fabulous!

I really enjoyed reading Dame Judi‘s reminiscences of past Shakespeare performances and her thoughts on Shakespeare‘s work in general. The book is written as a conversation and it feels like you‘re listening to her in her drawing room over tea. And now I want to read or re-read all these plays!

Littens, I am *obsessed*! Don't skip this oral history of Judi Dench's time playing all the Shakespeare greats, her recollections, and her insight into Shakespeare's characters and writing. I thought I'd miss her signature voice in the audiobook but Barbara Flynn is wonderful. Longing for time-travel so I can go back for her Gertrude in Hamlet (with Daniel Day-Lewis, obvs), Beatrice in Much Ado, Regan in Lear, Lady M., and Imogen in Cymbeline.

I like Shakespeare good enough. I‘ve seen plays at festivals and have enjoyed them. I‘m not obsessed with Shakespeare. However, the book was signed by Judy Dench. This is basically a book of interviews. I got bored pretty quick. But, she signed it. If you want to read interviews and are really into Shakespeare you‘ll enjoy.

Reading this, hearing Judi Dench‘s voice in my head, makes me want to reread every Shakespeare play, and watch the RSC productions online. I wish I‘d had it nearby as we read them in the #shakespearereadalong days!

Starting this one tonight. 🙂

Absolutely delightful. If you are a Shakespeare fan, a theatre fan, and/or a Judi Dench fan, this is an absolutely marvelous listen/read. Apparently the original conversations spanned 120 hours of footage, and I honestly feel like I could have listened to all of it. Joyful.

My husband, who totally gets me, gifted my with a signed copy of the tagged book. So of course I put it on my #bookspin for May. 🙂

Dame Judi Dench shares her experiences acting in Shakespeares plays.