Indulge me by pretending ‘summer reruns’ are still a thing that exists.
Retellings are by no means an uncommon occurrence in the book world. They are popular because they satisfy the reader’s nostalgia of encountering familiar characters while putting a new spin on their expectations, whether the adaptation transports the source material into more modern times or different locations, makes adjustments to race or gender, or breathes new life into the original by providing a backstory to a secondary character or a perspective that fills in any unwritten gaps.
Ideally, a retelling respects the bones of the original but also revitalizes it with perspectives and insights appealing to a modern readership, otherwise why bother reading it? These ten books are examples of retellings that serve both the old and new gods, with annotations citing the source material and why you should bother checking them out.
Lost Boy: The True Story of Captain Hook
Retelling of: Peter Pan.
Why bother? In the original, Peter Pan straight-up kidnaps boys to hang out with him in Neverland and no one bats an eye. This not only addresses these abductions, villifying Peter Pan, but it also skews way dark into Lord of the Flies territory in a thoroughly satisfying way, bringing adult themes to this beloved children’s story.
Retelling of: Pride and Prejudice.
Why bother? This takes the corsets and property negotiations of Austen’s esteemed marriage drama and adds dragons. Freaking dragons, guys!
Retelling of: Great Expectations.
Why bother? Miss Havisham is, along with Jane Eyre’s Bertha, one of the most fascinating and mysterious characters in literature. Bertha got her redemption song in Wide Sargasso Sea, so it’s Havisham’s turn to have her ‘before’ story told.
Retelling of: Jane Eyre.
Why bother? Not a ‘pure’ retelling, but close enough. This takes the essentials of Jane Eyre and makes them a little bloodier. Because ruth and patience are fine qualities indeed, but sometimes you need a little proactive skull-crackin’ to get the job done.
Retelling of: Othello.
Why bother? Setting the drama of Othello in a 1970’s-era suburban-D.C. elementary school, where an African diplomat’s son experiences playground bullying while trying to fit in with his all-white peers, preserves the themes of racism and betrayal of the original while also providing some uncomfortably incisive commentary on contemporary society.
Retelling of: The Tempest.
Why bother? Because we all agree that Caliban is the best part of this play, right? And even though this isn’t one of those feel-good reworkings where everyone gets to live happily ever after this time, at least the doomed characters get a little more screen time to make the inevitable tragedy that much more devastating.
Retelling of: Howards End.
Why bother? Because I read this not knowing it was an homage, having never read Howards End, and I thought it was a fantastic novel on its own merits. People who are better-read than me and can appreciate all the little winks and nods are bound to find this even more impressive.
Retelling of: Beowulf.
Why bother? Because very few of you are going to bother to read the original if it’s not part of a school assignment, no matter how good the translation (koff Seamus Heaney koff). This one is written in more contemporary language while still being challenging on account of all the philosophical and astrological detailing. Bonus points for dragon and forceful amputation.
Retelling of: Hamlet.
Why bother? Because this takes all the ghosts and teen angst of Hamlet, sets it in more-or-less modern-day England and makes it funny as hell, turning tragedy to tragicomedy.
Retelling of: Wuthering Heights.
Why bother? I am breaking my own rules here by including a YA title, but I am something of a WH-retelling addict, and this is one of the very few adaptations that honors the spirit of the original while contributing something entirely new to the story (wizards, magic) without making a mess of it. It absolutely should not work, but it absolutely does.
