A Midsummer Night’s Dream in the Temple of Peace

In this episode you find me sitting outside my writing hut on midsummer’s eve reading a beautiful edition of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. I show you the book, read a passage, and talk a little about the play
If you are enjoying these episodes and would like, on occasion (not every time!) to pop round and buy me a coffee, or a dram you can do so here: www.buymeacoffee.com/malcolmg...

[@ahmadtajy7178]

This comparing of book prices to meals and arguing that the meals are long gone but the book remains and I can pass it on is so relatable for me xddd

[@stephenandcas]

John's gospel was the first gospel I read, and it has always spoken to me of a mystical understanding of God. The prologue is a great piece of writing. I don't often comment on your videos because I struggle with religion and the church. your videos make me realise how much I have lost, and how life-giving literature and poetry can be. I still hold my priesthood dear but cannot live within the church. Instead like Judas, I wander back and forth in the darkness.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Thanks for this frank and helpful comment. You don't sound like Judas ti me, more like Thomas or maybe Nicodemus and John's Gospel has an affectionate place for both of them. I too get very frustrated with the church, but for every 'Peter' running around organising things badly and concerned with his own status there has to be a Thomas asking questions and also a beloved disciple, maybe John himself, just leaning close to Jesus himself and just listening to his heartbeat, so we just have a little patience with 'the church of Peter', and just stay close to Jesus in the church of John! As long as John's gospel is still there in the Bible and there's a place for a few of us misfits and mystics, I'm going to hang on in there! M

[@MarkEGreen-rf4on]

Good evening Malcolm, Yes, a very nice book indeed! There have been some very good illustrators from the 19th and 20th centuries, George Cruikshank and John Tenniel, come to mind, and Edward Ardizzone, l have fond childhood memories of his 'Little Tim' books. Happy reading, smoking and drinking!

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks, yes I love Ardizonne!

[@gratefulpipeandcigar3239]

Beautiful. I am impressed and in awe of Malcolm’s wonderful lifelong knowledge and love of literature. I think I love it just as much as he does but I still need much of it to be explained to me to get me to that place.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@marybrewer2203]

Being quite fond of John's Gospel, and of much of the Bard's work, I appreciated this as part of my "morning time". Thanks.

[@donnal.fowler-marchant519]

Sublime description of the work of the poet -- and of the Divine Poet's acts

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks

[@alicehornbeck4038]

So off I go to find my Shakespeare so I can read it again. I get so entranced I cannot follow. I have to read it for myself. Thank you for sharing this insight. What a wondwerful Puck you must have made.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Ah, I'm always happy when I send people back to the original text!

[@matildabathurst225]

Just wonderful. Thank you Malcolm for all your videos during lockdown.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Glad you like them!

[@UnclePhilsCellar]

What a lovely find.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

yes I was very lucky

[@sandrofazzolari8833]

Bravo Mr. Guite bravo 👏. Kind regards, SF.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks!

[@cliffhiggins730]

URIKA!!! I absolutely Love those words from John’s gospel; “And The Word became flesh and dwelt among us!.” EVERY Christian loves those words! What you have just unveiled to me, Dr. Guite, is an idea which I, in my ignorance, have never, until this very moment, realized! Through Shakespeare’s plays, he made his own words become flesh!!! REMARKABLE! Thank you for sharing this with us. I am glad that someone decided to perform a little art work within the pages of your book, otherwise, it might not be YOUR book. God bless, and HAPPY Father’s Day! At least we celebrate fathers on this day in the U.S. I’m not sure about the U.K. In any case, I’ll wish you a lovely day! Cliff

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks Cliff, yes John is my favourite Gospel and MND my favourite play so its always a happy combination!

[@mikegodfrey2221]

Ah this was a lovely yt to watch first thing before a busy workday :)

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@r.pittman3]

Henry Corbin's use of the word "Imaginal" comes to mind...the reality which comes through imagination...

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

yes I agree, that's an important term

[@DanielKellyFolkMusic]

In my one brush with Shakespeare productions, I auditioned for 'Much Ado About Nothing' with Puck's farewell speech from this play (probably inspired by the Dead Poet's Society scene). Suffice to say that I have no skills as an actor, but played Balthasar and kept the audience entertained with song during scene changes. A fortunate twist of fate that some colouring-in lowered the price of this book to bring it within your reach.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

its a great speech and glad you got the part, shakespeare of course left lots of space for singing in his plays

[@andrewwilson3327]

Thank you . That was a lovely time to be with you. Andrew

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

thanks!

[@gpat64]

Thank you. I wish you had been my English teacher at school !

[@canadasue]

Agree.

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Thanks!

[@canadasue]

This is a link to a signed first edition of this edition to A Midsummer Night’s Dream www.abebooks.com/servlet/SearchResults?isbn=&an=robinson%20heath%20illustrator%20shakespeare%20william&tn=shakespeares%20comedy%20midsummer-nights%20dream&n=100121503&cm_sp=mbc-_-ats-_-used

[@canadasue]

THESEUS More strange than true. I never may believe These antique fables nor these fairy toys. Lovers and madmen have such seething brains, Such shaping fantasies, that apprehend More than cool reason ever comprehends. The lunatic, the lover, and the poet Are of imagination all compact. One sees more devils than vast hell can hold- That is the madman. The lover, all as frantic, Sees Helen’s beauty in a brow of Egypt. The poet’s eye, in fine frenzy rolling, Doth glance from heaven to Earth, from Earth to heaven. And as imagination bodies forth The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing A local habitation and a name. Such tricks hath strong imagination, That if it would but apprehend some joy, It comprehends some bringer of that joy. Or in the night, imagining some fear, How easy is a bush supposed a bear! uacmwillshakespeare.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/a-midsummer-nights-dream.pdf and a link to Faith, Hope and Poetry: Theology and the Poetic Imagination (Routledge Studies in Theology, Imagination and the Arts) www.amazon.com/Faith-Hope-Poetry-Imagination-Routledge-ebook-dp-B0877B3S6N/dp/B0877B3S6N

[@MalcolmGuitespell]

Thanks for finding that Suzanne -ts fascinating to read the bookseller's comments on this particular edition and to see how rare it is - I picked up a bargain!