Shakespeare Magazine ~ The Shakespeare Dozen

The Shakespeare Dozen:
Web Sites You Don’t Want to Miss

Mr. William Shakespeare and the Internet
If you are only going to visit one Web site this summer, make it Terry Gray’s outstanding site. Here you will find original content in the form of a Shakespearean timeline, the Lamb’s Tales from Shakespeare, plus hundreds of annotated Web links. This is the only gateway to Shakespeare on the Internet that you will ever need.
The Internet Shakespeare Editions
The next stop on your high-tech Shakespearean journey is Michael Best’s content-rich site. Here you will read ten “books” about Shakespeare’s life and times, read the texts in their original spelling (with line numbers), and explore a list of annotated links that meet the ISE selection criteria.
The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust
No study of Shakespeare is truly complete without a visit to Stratford-upon-Avon. Even if you don’t plan on going to England anytime soon, this site provides you with a virtual tour through Shakespeare’s life with illustrations from the Birthplace Trust collection. If you are planning a visit, this site offers valuable information for tourists, scholars, teachers, and students.
Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre
While visiting England (virtually or in person), don’t miss a visit to the new Globe Theatre. Although this is not the most visually appealing site on the Internet, it will teach you everything you ever wanted to know about the Globe—new or old.
The Folger Shakespeare Library
For those American’s unable to travel to England, the next best thing is the Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC. This site will help you plan your trip and learn about the current exhibitions, events and performances taking place at the library. Explore the library holdings through Hamnet, an online catalogue. Teachers, don’t miss the outstanding collection of lesson plans in the Teaching Shakespeare archives.
Shakespeare High
With your brain full of information from the sites listed above, take a break and share what you have learned with other Shakespeare fans in Amy Ulen’s Shakespeare High cafeteria. The members of this active discussion board range from middle school students to retired college professors to professional actors. The Shakespeare High library is also the future home of Surfing with the Bard.
SHAKSPER
Perhaps you are interested in a highly academic and scholarly discussion of Shakespeare. If that’s the case, visit Hardy Cook’s site to join the Global Electronic Shakespeare Conference. Here you will also find a wide range of members from around the world, but the posts are primarily made by Shakespearean scholars.
Poor Yorick
Rejuvenated from your discussion break, you may find yourself in the mood to shop. Tanya Gough has gathered hundreds of books, films, and audios in her on-line Shakespeare multimedia catalogue. Are you looking for that rare video or Shakespeare adaptation? Check with Poor Yorick first.
Shakespeare: Subject to Change
While you wait for your order to arrive, surf on over to Cable in the Classroom for a Shakespearean example of “the brain-charging learning power of broadband technology.” This visually appealing series of interactive lessons helps explain how printing, editing, and directing made “Shakespeare subject to change.” This is an exciting glimpse into the future of education on the Internet.
Hamlet on the Ramparts
Although less flashy, Peter Donaldson’s site offers an equally interactive exploration of a single scene from Hamlet. Use this site to compare different editions of the text, video clips, and performance promptbooks. One of the most interesting elements of the site is the art from 1700-1899; the images are displayed in order by the lines of text they illustrate.
Shakespeare Illustrated at Shakespeare's World
To further your study of art inspired by Shakespeare’s plays, visit Harry Rusche’s outstanding site. The site catalogues British paintings from 1760 to 1900 both by artist and play title.
The Complete Works of Shakespeare
“Zounds!” you exclaim, “I don’t have time to read all of these sites. I simply want to look up a passage from one of the plays.” Never fear, we have the perfect link for you. Visit the first Internet edition of the complete works created by Jeremy Hylton in 1993. This is another low-tech site that makes sure Web design doesn’t get in the way of your enjoyment of the texts.

These must-see sites will get you started on your on-line Shakespearean journey! If you uncover a gem not listed here that may be of interest to our readers, please send us the URL along with your review of the site.

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