New From Quirk Books: William Shakespeare’s American Hustle, The Fast & the Furious, & More

Here at Quirk, we like to give readers what they want, so when one of our books gains a mass audience we sit up and take notice.

That's why we're proud to announce a new series, which we imagine will be more successful that we can even imagine. Read on for the exciting details!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2014

Following the triumph of its 2013 New York Times best seller William Shakespeare’s Star Wars and its sequel, William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back, Quirk Books has announced plans to produce an extended series of Shakespearean movie adaptations. 

Up next will be William Shakespeare’s The Fast and the Furious, which reimagines the popular action film as a Shakespearean tragedy in which a Hamlet-like protagonist wrestles with vengeance, grief, and the consequences of illegal hay-cart racing.

“To be fast and furious or not to be fast and furious; this is the question that Hamlet wrestles with,” says Ian Doescher, author of William Shakespeare’s Star Wars and its sequels. “Shakespeare’s Hamlet  so clearly prefigures our modern automobile-based action movies, the book practically writes itself."

He quickly goes on to clarify that the books in fact do not write themselves, pointing out that in the next year he’ll be authoring iambic pentameter versions of fifty-seven contemporary films in the next year, thanks to an overlooked clause in his original contract with Quirk Books.

“We’re very excited to follow up with Shakespearean takes on other beloved films,” says Quirk Books president Brett Cohen. “The world has waited far too long for titles like William Shakespeare’s Jaws, William Shakespeare’s Ocean’s Eleven, and William Shakespeare’s Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure.”

"Also William Shakespeare's They Shoot Horses Don't They?," adds Jason Rekulak, Quirk's publisher.

Moneka Hewlett, vice president of sales at Quirk, notes: "I’m particularly excited that we’ll be offering avant-garde favorites such as William Shakespeare’s Un Chien Andalou and William Shakespeare’s Koyaanisqatsi.”

In response to anticipation among fans of Elizabethan movie scripts, Quirk has already released cover concepts for the first books in the series as well as several excerpts:

Dost thou speak unto me?  Eh? Speak'st to me?"

—William Shakespeare’s’ Taxi Driver

Forsooth, bid welcome to my little friend!

—William Shakespeare’s Scarface

Thou dost not comprehend: perchance I could

   Some class have had, perchance contender been,

   Perchance have made some mettle of myself.

   Instead of what I am: a simple knave, 

   A low-born folly-fallen barnacle.

—William Shakespeare’s On The Waterfront

Alack, the Soylent Green of people's made!

—William Shakespeare’s Soylent Green

I shall partake of what the lass hath order'd.

—William Shakespeare’s When Harry Met Sally

I am, am e'er shalt be, thy loyal friend.

—William Shakespeare’s Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan

Of public houses found in any town,

   O'er all the world—she walketh into mine.

—William Shakespeare’s Casablanca

Some day, and ay, such day may ne'er arrive,

   Belike thou shalt a favor do for me.

—William Shakespeare’s The Godfather

Most verily, my dear, no damn I give.

—William Shakespeare’s Gone With the Wind

Anon, for my close-up I am prepar'd, 

   Most kind and generous Mister DeMille.

—William Shakespeare’s Sunset Boulevard