Shakespeare Pro

Literally in tears that this exists. Read all the reviews (the unhinged responses from the developer comes from how they probably know how valuable this app is going to be to some people) Not a student or a teacher but a Shakespeare enthusiast and have not been able to read any plays this year (usually depend on reading No Fear Shakespeare books when I WFH but since starting my new job, found it hard to take them in public). Work that has gone into this is crazy - would have paid whatever. Thank you thank you thank you.

3 stars because yes it works… but. The pro version is struggling to justify a fairly hefty price for work that is in the public domain. There are a lot of bells and whistles, falling into 3 domains: (i) the ‘app’ simply as a repository for other people’s work e.g. Lamb’s summaries of Shakespeare for children (ii) tech that could easily be replicated on any word processor or E - reader e.g. bookmarking or word counts. (Some of this seems fairly pointless or just for the sake of it: I can for instance, find out the most commonly used word in any scene. Spoiler alert - it’s usually ‘the’). So the utility of these frills without any kind of critical human input seems limited. (Iii) in-app purchases. - hang on, I’ve just spent £12.99 and they want me to spend more on Lexicons or modern-day ‘translations’? (This extra cost is not well-advertised before purchase, even on other reviews). The most useful thing the app could do is give some kind of guide to Shakespeare’s English but it does not do this - there is a glossary but it is basic to the point of glib, giving one word definitions, often missing the point of some of the word play. There is no attempt to explain the metaphors or allusions with which Shakespeare is so richly endowed. I think if you want to study Shakespeare in depth, just go to a bookshop and get an old-fashioned study guide.

For there are many be-different and look-likey appy-lee-cations whom wouldst crave thy wanton musings… in-digitalis we trust, holdst to thy craven bosom, thou scandalous fakir — thee! I am one of those fortunate poetry lovers who is completely immersed in both of the ‘Bards’ - Mr R.Burns & Mr Wm.Shakespeare. Yes, there are MANY other fantastic poets, granted, but.. well; it’s very much ‘Horses for Courses’ when talking about ones absolute favourite artistes.. yes? Don’t get me wrong, nay, guid viewer, for I’m partial to a look into ‘Tang Dynasty Favourite’ - ‘Du Fu’, his ‘homey’ ‘Li Po’ - there be true, and simplistic word-artistry by them boys! Achtung! Och, Aye, and so to the main fare; Burns is Braw, and Wully Shakespeare is, quite simply the cerebral, deeply interesting, outstanding storyteller, and master of mainstay speak-say! Go ahead, immerse thy self in this, an exceptional ‘thingy’ to enlarge your intellect and educate your muse.

+Agree with all the positives!!!

Best there is

I purchased Shakespeare Pro several years ago, and upon a recent upgrade it has been replaced by the free version of the app and asks me to pay £12.99 to upgrade to Shakespeare Pro, an app I fully paid for in the past! Why are you attempting to scam your users?

Excellent source of quotes that I had forgotten in my dotage. Now I can bore my dear son Joseph by quoting at every opportunity.

This is a fantastic app in very many ways. Unfortunately, the font size is no longer big enough for me. I have accessibility settings turned on and I have the app's font setting at Huge. My idea of Huge differs greatly from yours. In your next update, could you update the Huge font setting to a size of, say, 24 pt, please? Visually impaired users want to enjoy your brilliant app. (You do have obligations to make content fully accessible to all users)

I’ve just bought the upgrade which provides modern translations of the plays. I haven’t been able to look at these in any depth, but I can say that the ‘Measure for Measure’ translation is truly dreadful. Full of mistakes, and showing almost no understanding of the original language. Who on earth provided the translation, and why wasn’t it checked by someone with an understanding of Shakespeare? I’ve glanced at a couple of the other plays, where the translations seem much better, so I’m hoping that the Measure for Measure translation isn’t typical...

. . . all things Bardic “in one fell swoop” (you can trace that in the app!)