Stories from Shakespeare
Level A2 / Pre-intermediate
Read Shakespeare in easy English! Improve your English with these short stories, adapted for learners at Pre-intermediate level (A2).
Two Shakespeare stories at your level: Macbeth and Twelfth Night.
One is a dark tragedy.
One is a romantic comedy.
Shakespeare in easy English
Extract from the book
The witches were all looking at Macbeth with small, bright eyes. He was a little afraid but he didn’t want to show it. He moved nearer and asked them, “Who – or what – are you?”
Read a longer extract here, in the product catalogue.
Here are two stories by the most famous British writer, Shakespeare.
In the tragedy Macbeth, a man meets three witches and they tell him that he will be king. But to become king, how many people must he kill?
In the comedy Twelfth Night, Viola nearly dies in a storm at sea but starts a new life in Illyria. She has to dress as a man and a woman falls in love with her. And what about Viola’s twin brother? Did he die in the storm?
At your level – The language in this book is controlled. The vocabulary & grammar are at level A2/Pre-intermediate. The number of headwords is 1,000.
Dictionary – There are definitions of difficult words at the back.
Shorter – The stories are shorter than the originals. This book has 9,700 words.
Exercises – Get free vocabulary and comprehension exercises for this book, and notes on British culture.
Fun – Improve your English in a fun and relaxing way, without extra studying.
Confidence – Reading stories improves your confidence and fluency.
What do readers think of the book?
“The stories are in simple English so we could read them.“
Attila, Learner
“Very good book to learn more English. It is fun to say I can read Shakespeare! The book explains new words and I learned a lot.“
Antoine, Learner
“Bellissimo libro. Perfetto per livello B1. Appassionante ed intrigante! Ottimo anche da leggere in spiaggia.“
Cristina, Learner
Audiobook
You can also buy the audiobook. It is read by me, in a standard British English accent.
You might also like ...
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Read in: 
A graded reader is a book that has been adapted for learners of a foreign language, using simplified vocabulary, sentence structure and grammar. It’s designed to make reading easier while still offering the enjoyment of a full story. The difficulty level is adjusted to match different stages of language proficiency, giving them exactly the right level of challenge to progress without becoming discouraged.
This version has simplified language and it is shorter. This makes it easier for English learners. It uses strictly controlled vocabulary, shorter sentences and grammar at exactly the right level, while keeping the essence of the original story.
All my books are available as paperbacks (physical books) and eBooks. Some are also available as audiobooks. Check on this page for the links to buy.
You can buy all my books on Amazon and PayHip. Some are also available from other websites. Check on this page for the links to buy.
Yes, possibly. But first, are you really a beginner or are you elementary, pre-intermediate etc? Each book is written for a specific level and you should read the correct level for you. The level for this book is indicated at the top of this page. If you’re not sure of your level, check it here.
Yes, sure! You can check your level here.
You can just read it and enjoy it. You will improve your English in all areas without realising – it’s like magic. Reading extensively will expand your vocabulary and your understanding of grammar. It will also improve your comprehension and fluency. And, perhaps most importantly, it will increase your confidence! All this happens without extra studying – you will learn without any effort, just by reading an exciting story!
Or you can study the book more deeply: you can download the free exercises that come with each book (vocabulary, comprehension and culture notes); you can recommend the book to a friend and then discuss it together; you can read it out aloud to practise your pronunciation; you can write a review; you can make a note of useful vocabulary you learnt.
Yes. Each book includes free vocabulary exercises and reading comprehension questions to help reinforce what you’ve learned. There are also free culture notes for each book so you can increase your knowledge of British culture. Register here to access the supplementary materials.
Absolutely! The book is designed to be accessible for independent learners, with helpful notes and exercises to guide you.
Definitely! This book is perfect for classrooms, with its simplified language and activities to support learning. I’ve written a guide for teachers – click here and go to page 10.
Yes, you can. You will find an extract from the book on this page.
Some books have audiobook versions. Check on this page to find out.
Download the free handbook
Click the image for more information about my ELT graded readers.
