Twelfth Night

About the Book

SHAKESPEARE FOR THE MODERN READER

Presented by John Burfeind

Twelfth Night is a riotous romp on the sun-drenched shores of the Mediterranean Sea.  Beautiful Olivia, plucky Viola, and maudlin Orsino clumsily romance one another, while steering clear of the inebriated prankster Sir Toby Belch and his idiotic comrade-in-arms Sir Andrew Aguecheek.  When Viola’s twin brother unexpectedly shows up in the midst of one of Sir Toby’s booze-fueled practical jokes, confusion and laughs abound!

Familiarity with the plays of William Shakespeare has long been a sign of cultural literacy.  For centuries, refined readers and theatergoers worldwide have savored the beauty of his poetry and drama.  For the first time in 400 years, the meaning of his plays is accessible to the general public in Shakespeare For The Modern Reader.  This unique new presentation allows the reader to enjoy a Shakespearean play in its original language with complete comprehension.  Grab this book, set aside a few hours on a weekend, and have a wonderful time with the greatest writer in history!

About the Author

John Burfeind is a medical oncologist with a lifelong interest in teaching. He has been awarded for his teaching skills at the Medical College of Wisconsin and at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. This presentation of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night has given him the opportunity to unite his passion for teaching with his interest in the seminal events of Western civilization. For years he searched unsuccessfully for a presentation of Shakespeare’s plays that was accessible to the average 21st century reader. Finally, he decided to write the book that he wished had been written, and the result is this edition of Twelfth Night. A resident of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, he is a long-time season ticket holder at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater, and he has enjoyed the outstanding work of the nationally known Milwaukee Shakespeare Company. He and his wife Jennifer are expecting their first child.