Inspiring Young Readers

posted on 10 Feb 2026

William Shakespeare: The Winter’s Tale retold by Georghia Ellinas, illustrated by Jane Ray

I’m a great fan of Shakespeare’s later plays – often referred to as ‘Problem Plays’, Romances or tragicomedies – not because they stage better than some of the earlier plays but because they illuminate the progress of Shakespeare as an artist and thinker. At their simplest, they take deep emotional situations and rather then steer them towards a tragic end, a way through to a resolution and accommodation is found. The plays have family at their heart – immediate family and a wider community ‘family’ – and Shakespeare faces up to the sort of issues that can tear families apart but which can be turned away from tragedy to resolution.

Marital strife is at the centre of The Winter’s Tale as it had been with Othello but on this occasion the potentially tragic impact of unhinged power and sexual jealousy is steered towards a healing by the next generation and the love they refuse to give up on.

I hope that this brief introduction will give you an insight into the skill needed by Georghia Ellinas to turn this into a prose story that will retain the key messages but also appeal to an audience of younger readers. There’s plenty of ‘magic’ in Shakespeare’s narrative that might make this a difficult story to swallow but by telling the tale as if it was a traditional fairy story we are able to accept the magical power of redemption that is symbolised by the coming back to life of Hermione, the wronged wife of King Leontes, because the king is truly repentant and his actions fulfil the destiny foretold for him.

But the story is only part of the pleasure of this book because we also have the fantastic illustrations to enjoy too. Jane Ray is one of our favourite illustrators and has a style that is immediately recognisable (and much imitated) with the lavish use of gilding, decorative borders and set-piece drawings that will remind you of theatre sets. 

Ray has already illustrated similar versions of The Tempest, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet – so you’ll want to add this one to your collection too.

Available now from Walker Books, you will be able to get a copy from your local independent bookshop – who will, of course, be happy to order you a copy if they don’t have it on their shelves.

 

Terry Potter

February 2026