Goldie Alexander’s trilogy Shakespeare Now, gives a contemporary slant to three of
Shakespeare’s plays, with which the characters in each novel are aligned. Each
novel is a stand-alone read. The first, Changing
History is adapted from Romeo and
Juliet.
Eighteen year old Taylor travels to Berlin with her
Opa to improve her language skills while visiting the places he talks about.
During a guided tour, she slips and hits her head. She regains consciousness to
find herself in Berlin, 1928. Rescued by the Jewish boy Rom, she is taken to
his friend’s house. Her handbag, identification and money are missing.
Stuck in old Berlin, who would believe she has
arrived here through a time warp?
She must find work to survive at a time when
the streets are filled with homeless people. Rom and his German girlfriend
Juliet - star-crossed lovers with no hope of being together - help Taylor
secure temporary lodging and a job.
Berlin life is a nesting place for artists and
musicians, writers and freedom of every kind. Women are considered a commodity
to be used and discarded. The rich are the only survivors in an unstable
economy while the poor struggle on a daily basis. This experience changes
Taylor’s perceptions and beliefs. Will she ever get back home?
Readers get an intimate and detailed view of Berlin
– lifestyles, debauchery, anti-Semitism, and Hitler’s plans for Germany. Filled
with an impressive amount of historical information, the story is told in a
back and forth narrative that flows, regardless of time-shifts, from Berlin,
1928, to Melbourne, 2017. Teachers Notes are included with a précis of the
original story in each novel.
In Gap Year
Nanny, adapted from Macbeth, we
see corruption, lust for power, and dissipation which accompany the betrayal, ruin and death of loved ones.
While Merri is on holiday in Europe, her belongings
are stolen at the backpacker’s hostel. To repay the debt incurred for her
return home, she becomes nanny to the three children of the very rich Lorna and
Stuart.
Lorna is obsessed with money and status. In order
to increase their income, she manipulates Stuart into taking advice from three
company gurus that communicate through a TV screen.
Stuart loses control of his
life to them, deteriorates physically and emotionally, and then falls apart
after playing a decisive role in the destruction and death of his best friend.
His end is expected.
Meanwhile, Merri, obsessed with Stuart, is
struggling with her conflicting sexuality after breaking-up with girlfriend
Mica. Totally responsible for the children and as a constant observer of their
parents’ detachment, growth, change and maturity is inevitable in an ever-evolving
Merri as she tries to make sense of her life and the role she’s participating
in.
The
Trytth Chronicles is adapted
from The Tempest, one of Shakespeare’s
final plays. This is cleverly converted to futuristic fantasy.
Alonso has overthrown his brother Prospero and
taken control of the city of Naples that sits on Titan. Prospero, his daughter
Miranda, Caliban, a vengeful and disfigured monster born on their spaceship,
and the Trytth Ariel, have been away from their homes on a spaceship, for
fifteen years.
Returning from his daughter’s wedding, Alonso’s
starship is battered by meteors; a tempest engineered by Prospero. Forced to evacuate
using four capsules, the seven occupants arrive through a tube connected to
Prospero’s starship, landing in different areas.
Ferdie, Alonso’s son, arrives first. He meets
Miranda, and they instantly fall in love. Here begins a love story intertwined
with jealousy, corruption, planned revenge, retribution and absolution, and
where all the characters go through trials and tribulations before a resolution
is reached.
Written in a complex but easily followed storyline,
it is set in a fantasy world of warring creatures and threats from amazing
composite animals and natural elements, including the emotional turmoil of the
characters.
An intelligent, knowledgeable writer and former
teacher of Shakespeare, Alexander creates a riveting and imaginative read. Her
trilogy is presented with depth and credence. This Shakespeare Now! trilogy also comes in an Anthology.
Discover more about Goldie's motivation on Rewriting Shakespeare, here.
Title:
Changing History
Author:
Goldie Alexander
Publisher:
Five Senses Publishers, $15.26
Publication
Date: November 2018
Format:
Paperback
ISBN:
9781760322205; 9781760322212; 978160322229
For ages: 14+
For ages: 14+
