Fellow launches third #SlowShakespeare blog

Dr Hester Lees-Jeffries (2006), a Senior University Lecturer and one of the directors of studies in English at St Catharine’s, has kicked off the next in her series of #SlowShakespeare blogs: #KingedUnkinged takes a closer look at Richard II, one of William Shakespeare’s best-loved history plays, which tells the story of the fall of Richard II and his deposition by Henry Bolingbroke as Henry IV.

The project involves Dr Lees-Jeffries writing about the play every day, a few lines at a time, just as she has done for her earlier #SlowShakespeare projects: #Starcrossed in 2018 focused on Romeo and Juliet, while #StormTossed in 2019–20 took a closer look at The Tempest. She selected Richard II with the help of followers on Twitter, who were invited to vote on which play she should write about next, and she expects to be writing about the play for the best part of a year.

Dr Lees-Jeffries explains, “#SlowShakespeare is just that: an attempt to read slowly and mindfully, paying attention to the details and texture of language. It’s not intended to be exhaustive; it’s personal, even intimate, a way of spending time with plays I love. Close reading is central to the study of English in Cambridge, and this is about as close as you can get! I’ve been really touched by the enthusiasm of people all around the world, and am delighted that many teachers in particular have found my work useful.”

Follow @starcrossed2018 for new posts and images and discussion of past productions of the play; the blog is updated at around 9am every day.

Find out more about studying English at St Catharine’s.