“If to Have a Lot is Not Possible”: The Bulgarian Journey of Mary and Charles Lamb's Tales from Shakespeare and Other Shakespeare Adaptations for Children

Abstract

The essay gives an historical overview of the chronology of the arrival in Bulgaria of Charles and Mary Lamb's Shakespeare adaptations, which first appeared in the 1880s. Further developments are considered in relation to the socio-political climate in the country, focusing on the decade between 1930 and 1940, which suggests a dialogue between the Lambs’ and other adapted versions of The Merchant of Venice, in a context of growing anti-Semitism. The last period under consideration is the 1990s, which mark a revival of interest in Charles and Mary Lamb's adaptations.