The Tempest

A book review.

The Tempest

by William Shakespeare

published: 1610

ISBN: 9781019770696

genre: Fiction

reviewed:2024.06.21

I hate to say it, but I was disappointed with this one. The first half is Shakespeare's usual magic, saying so much with so little. But then it accelerates to an ending with no real resolution. Things just snap into place quite unnaturally and we're done. I mean, he sets up the story so magically, telling of a ship caught in a storm in such a way that we get a perfect understanding of the workings of the various social strata on the ship. And in the end, there is no conflict that resolves the ambitions of the main character. He just enters the field of view of the king and two decades of exile are waved away on the spot. As the ending drew near I began to wonder if there was another section after the lengthy notes and interpretation at the back of the volume. But, no.

I don't recommend this.