William Shakespeare's "Hamlet": A Retelling in Prose

I would like to see my retellings of classic literature used in schools, so I give permission to the country of Finland (and all other countries) to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. I also give permission to the state of Texas (and all other states) to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever. I also give permission to all teachers to buy one copy of this eBook and give copies to all students forever.

Teachers need not actually teach my retellings. Teachers are welcome to give students copies of my eBooks as background material. For example, if they are teaching Homer’s “Iliad” and “Odyssey,” teachers are welcome to give students copies of my “Virgil’s ‘Aeneid’: A Retelling in Prose” and tell students, “Here’s another ancient epic you may want to read in your spare time.”

While Hamlet is studying in Germany, his father, the King of Denmark, dies and his uncle marries his mother, thereby becoming the new King of Denmark. Hamlet returns to Denmark, where his father’s ghost — if in fact it is his father’s ghost — appears to Hamlet and tells him that his brother — Hamlet’s uncle — murdered him in order to become King. What should Hamlet do? What if his father’s ‘ghost’ is actually a devil trying to get Hamlet to commit murder so that Hamlet’s soul will be condemned to Hell when he dies? How can Hamlet determine whether his uncle murdered Hamlet’s father? And if so, did Hamlet’s mother know about the murder? Were his uncle and his mother having an affair before his father died? Should Hamlet try to find out the truth? Is exiting this troubled world through suicide a suitable option? If his uncle is guilty of murder, should Hamlet get revenge?

Teachers, the author gives you permission to buy one copy of this book per course and share it without extra cost with all the students in that course.