John Crace, creator of the Guardian’s ‘Digested Read’ column, parodies ‘the Scottish play’ in a brilliantly funny reduced form, with Professor John Sutherland providing notes.

‘Give me the daggers and I’ll pin the blame/ On Duncan’s grooms who both are also slain. /A little water clears us of this deed /Though a large scotch might also do the trick…’ To celebrate the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death, this is the first of a new collection of the Bard’s greatest plays, digested to a few thousand words with invaluable side notes from John Sutherland. Funny and incredibly clever, these parodies are a joy for those who know their Shakespeare, perfect for the theatre goer needing a quick recap, and a massive relief for those just desperate to pass their English exam.