{"id":25137,"date":"2014-09-06T16:20:36","date_gmt":"2014-09-06T20:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25137"},"modified":"2014-09-06T16:22:55","modified_gmt":"2014-09-06T20:22:55","slug":"review-of-verily-a-new-hope-by-ian-doescher","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sonderbooks.com\/blog\/?p=25137","title":{"rendered":"Review of Verily, a New Hope, by Ian Doescher"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"verily_a_new_hope_large\"<\/a>William Shakespeare\u2019s Star Wars<\/p>\n

Verily, a New Hope<\/em><\/p>\n

By Ian Doescher<\/p>\n

Quirk Books, Philadelphia, 2013. 174 pages.
\nStarred Review
\n2013 Cybils Finalist<\/a><\/p>\n

I\u2019m going to list this on the Teens page \u2013 but this is truly a book that spans all ages. I brought it to a party of adults playing Eurogames, and they were all delighted and spontaneously read bits aloud. One of them was a homeschooler, and we agreed that it would be perfect for a group of middle school students getting ready to tackle Shakespeare.<\/p>\n

What is it? The complete story of the first Star Wars movie, told in iambic pentameter, as Shakespeare would surely have written it, had he ever heard of space ships. This isn\u2019t a straight translation. The author also used Shakespearean devices such as a Chorus to describe action and multiple uses of soliloquies to tell what the characters are thinking and planning.<\/p>\n

This book truly begs to be read aloud or, better yet, performed. And, since everyone knows the story of Star Wars so well, any Shakespearean language the reader doesn\u2019t understand will be readily made clear.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the scene where Luke has just met Obi Wan Kenobi:<\/p>\n

\nCHORUS\tNow holdeth Luke the weapon in his hand,
\n\t\tAnd with a switch the flame explodes in blue.
\n\t\tThe noble light Luke\u2019s rev\u2019rence doth command:
\n\t\tThat instant was a Jedi born anew.<\/p>\n

OBI-WAN\t[aside:<\/em>] Now doth the Force begin to work in him.
\n\t\t[To Luke:<\/em>] For many generations Jedi were
\n\t\tThe guarantors of justice, peace, and good
\n\t\tWithin the Old Republic. Ere the dark
\n\t\tTimes came and ere the Empire \u2018gan to reign.<\/p>\n

LUKE\t\tHow hath my father died?<\/p>\n

OBI-WAN\t[aside:<\/em>]\t\t–O question apt!
\n\t\tThe story whole I\u2019ll not reveal to him,
\n\t\tYet may he one day understand my drift:
\n\t\tThat from a certain point of view it may
\n\t\tBe said my answer is the honest truth.
\n\t\t[To Luke:<\/em>] A Jedi nam\u2019d Darth Vader \u2013 aye, a lad
\n\t\tWhom I had taught until he evil turn\u2019d \u2013
\n\t\tDid help the Empire hunt and then destroy
\n\t\tThe Jedi. [Aside:<\/em>] Now, the hardest words of all
\n\t\tI\u2019ll utter here unto this innocent,
\n\t\tWith hope that one day he shall comprehend.
\n\t\t[To Luke:<\/em>] He hath thy Father murder\u2019d and betray\u2019d,
\n\t\tAnd now are Jedi nearly all extinct.
\n\t\tYoung Vader was seduc\u2019d and taken by
\n\t\tThe dark side of the Force.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Ian Doescher includes a note at the end of the book as to why Shakespeare and Star Wars make a natural pairing. I\u2019m happy to report that the trilogy continues in The Empire Striketh Back.<\/em><\/p>\n

quirkbooks.com\/shakespearestarwars<\/a>
\nIanDoescher.com<\/a>
\nstarwars.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Buy from Amazon.com<\/a><\/p>\n

Find this review on Sonderbooks<\/a> at: www.sonderbooks.com\/Teens\/verily_a_new_hope.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclosure: I am an Amazon Affiliate, and will earn a small percentage if you order a book on Amazon after clicking through from my site.<\/p>\n

Source: This review is based on a library book from Fairfax County Public Library.<\/p>\n

Disclaimer: I am a professional librarian, but I maintain my website and blogs on my own time. The views expressed are solely my own, and in no way represent the official views of my employer or of any committee or group of which I am part.<\/p>\n

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