Classic plays / drama
Usborne Publishing Ltd The Tempest
Book SynopsisProspero and his daughter Miranda are stranded on a lonely desert island. Then a magical storm washes a royal ship ashore - and Prospero finally has the chance to right old wrongs. Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy retold for children growing in reading confidence and ability as part of the Usborne Young Reading Programme.Trade Review"Irresistible for children learning to read" - Child Education Plus; "The Usborne Young Reading Program has a lovely selection of classic tales adapted for younger readers. Graded in seven levels, these have just enough stretch in them and yet are not too overwhelming." - The Irish Sunday Independent; "Crack reading and make confident and enthusiastic readers with this fantastic reading programme" - Julia Eccleshare
£5.99
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Macbeth
Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. Shakespeare’s Macbeth is one of the greatest tragic dramas the world has known. Macbeth himself, a brave warrior, is fatally impelled by supernatural forces, by his proud wife, and by his own burgeoning ambition. As he embarks on his murderous course to gain and retain the crown of Scotland, we see the appalling emotional and psychological effects on both Lady Macbeth and himself. The cruel ironies of their destiny are conveyed in poetry of unsurpassed power. In the theatre, this tragedy remains perennially engrossing.
£5.96
Wordsworth Editions Ltd As You Like It
Book SynopsisThis Wordsworth Edition includes an exclusive Introduction and Notes by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. As You Like It is one of Shakespeare’s finest romantic comedies, variously lyrical, melancholy, satiric, comic and absurd. Its boldly implausible plot generates a profusion of love-lorn men, a resourceful heroine in disguise, sexual ambiguity, sceptical philosophising, and finally a multiplicity of marriages. The ironic medley of pastoral artifice, romantic ardour and quizzical reflection has helped to make As You Like It perennially popular in the theatre. A recent production was deemed ‘fresh, funny, sexy and, when it matters, deeply touching’. As You Like It is part of the Wordsworth Classics’ Shakespeare Series, used in the workshops of the Royal Shakespeare Company. Every volume in the series has been newly edited by Cedric Watts, described by Edward Said as ‘a man for whom the enjoyment and enrichment of friends and students is the main consideration in what he does’.
£6.23
Arcturus Publishing Antony Cleopatra
Book SynopsisWilliam Shakespeare is perhaps the world's greatest literary figure, famed for his insights into the human condition. Records show that he married Anne Hathaway at the age of 18 and had three children with her. At some point he went to London and joined the theatrical profession, as an actor, playwright, poet and, latterly, theatre manager and impresario. He died in April 1616, aged 52. The body of work left by Shakespeare included 37 plays, four poems and a collection of sonnets.
£7.59
Can of Worms Press Macbeth
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Walker Books Ltd Twelfth Night
Book SynopsisA captivating picture book retelling by Shakespeare's Globe for very young readers.William Shakespeare's comedy about mistaken identities and unrequited love in the far-off kingdom of Illyria is unforgettably re-imagined by Shakespeare's Globe as a picture book for very young readers. With exquisite and detailed illustrations from the acclaimed artist Jane Ray, who has previously been shortlisted for the Kate Greenaway Medal, this captivating retelling is a magical way to introduce children to one of the best-loved works of the world's greatest playwright.
£13.49
Oxford University Press Julius Caesar
Book Synopsis''Cry havoc! and let slip the dogs of war''Set against the backdrop of a nation breaking out into civil war, Julius Caesar raises questions of governance, power, tyranny, and enslavement. This New Oxford Shakespeare edition situates these questions within the historical framework of the play''s early history in theatre and print, as well as within its long performance history up to and including in the 21st century. The introduction examines the ways in which Roman history is deployed to justify and question political structures, both by Shakespeare and other writers, as well as the transition from historical sources to stage. The New Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative editions of Shakespeare''s works with introductory materials designed to encourage new interpretations of the plays and poems. Using the text from the landmark The New Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works: Modern Critical Edition, these volumes offer readers the latest thinking on the authentic texts (collated from all surviving original versions of Shakespeare''s work) alongside innovative introductions from leading scholars. The texts are accompanied by a comprehensive set of critical apparatus to give readers the best resources to help understand and enjoy Shakespeare''s work.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
£7.59
Oxford University Press The Merry Wives of Windsor
Book Synopsis''Here will be an old abusing of God''s patience and the King''s English.''The Merry Wives of Windsor is the only Shakespeare play named entirely after female characters and his only comedy set in England. These features underscore some of its most immediately appealing qualities -- its contemporary realism; its depiction of everyday life; its interest in status and gender; and the language and physicality of its comedy. This edition''s introduction focuses on these elements of Merry Wives, setting out their historical contexts but also thinking about what they offer audiences and readers today. It addresses the place of the play within Shakespeare''s career and canon and the enduringly popular figure of Falstaff, before thinking about its generic peculiarities as a mixture of city comedy and domestic comedy. The edition gives readers a rich breadth of historical context and real-life examples through which to understand and appreciate the text. It also addresses Merry Wives''s popular
£6.99
Union Square & Co. Hamlet
Book SynopsisBased on the 'No Fear Shakespeare' translations, this dynamic graphic novel features an illustrated cast of characters and a helpful plot summary.Trade Review“. . . makes the Bard even more accessible. . . . its clear, black-and-white scenes often shifting into a stark, expressionistic mode that heightens the drama. Along with a nicely digestible version of the play, this will give readers a feel for Shakespeare’s language and wordplay.“ —Booklist“. . . makes the Bard even more accessible. . . . its clear, black-and-white scenes often shifting into a stark, expressionistic mode that heightens the drama. Along with a nicely digestible version of the play, this will give readers a feel for Shakespeare’s language and wordplay.“ —Booklist
£10.44
Vintage Publishing New Boy
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£9.49
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Richard II
Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. Richard II is one of Shakespeare’s finest works: lucid, eloquent, and boldly structured. It can be seen as a tragedy, or a historical play, or a political drama, or as one part of a vast dramatic cycle which helped to generate England’s national identity. Today, to some of us, Richard II may appear conservative; but, in Shakespeare’s day, it could appear subversive: ‘I am Richard II’, declared an indignant Queen Elizabeth. Numerous recent revivals in the theatre and on screen have demonstrated the enduring power and poignancy of this drama of the downfall of an egoistic but pitiable monarch. Richard II is the seventeenth volume in the Wordsworth Classics’ Shakespeare Series, in which each volume has been freshly edited by Cedric Watts.
£5.96
Pan Macmillan Macbeth
Book SynopsisDark and violent, Macbeth is also the most theatrically spectacular of Shakespeare's tragedies. Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful books make perfect gifts or a treat for any book lover. This edition is illustrated throughout by Sir John Gilbert, and includes an introduction by Dr Robert Mighall.Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king to ensure his ambitions are realized. But he soon learns the meaning of terror - killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return to haunt him. A story of war and witchcraft, Macbeth also explores the relationship between husband and wife, and the risks they are prepared to take to achieve their desires.Trade ReviewEvery generation continues to be in his debt. Shakespeare’s plots, which are brilliantly polyvalent, continue to inspire ceaseless adaptations and spin-offs. His unforgettable phrase-making recurs on the lips of millions who do not realise they are quoting Shakespeare * Guardian *
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Diary of a Madman The Government Inspector
Book SynopsisAuthor, dramatist and satirist, Nikolai Gogol deeply influenced later Russian literature with his powerful depictions of a society dominated by petty bureaucracy and base corruption. This volume includes both his most admired short fiction and his most famous drama. A biting and frequently hilarious political satire, The Government Inspector has been popular since its first performance and was regarded by Nabokov as the greatest Russian play every written. The stories gathered here, meanwhile, range from comic to tragic and describe the isolated lives of low-ranking clerks, lunatics and swindlers. They include Diary of a Madman, an amusing but disturbing exploration of insanity; Nevsky Prospect, a depiction of an artist besotted with a prostitute; and The Overcoat, a moving consideration of poverty that powerfully influenced Dostoevsky and later Russian literature.For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking wTable of ContentsThe Diary of a Madman, The Government Inspector, and Selected StoriesChronologyIntroductionFurther ReadingTable of RanksIvan Fyodorovich Shponka and His AuntHow Ivan Ivanovich Quarrelled with Ivan NikiforovichNevsky ProspektThe NoseThe OvercoatDiary of a MadmanThe CarriageThe Government InspectorPublishing History and Notes
£9.99
Spark Twelfth Night (No Fear Shakespeare): Volume 8
Book SynopsisRead Shakespeare’s plays in all their brilliance—and understand what every word means! Don’t be intimidated by Shakespeare! These popular guides make the Bard’s plays accessible and enjoyable.Each No Fear guide contains: The complete text of the original play A line-by-line translation that puts the words into everyday language A complete list of characters, with descriptions Plenty of helpful commentary
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd Othello
Book Synopsis''If we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare'' William HazlittA soldier of great standing and a newly married man, Othello seems to be in an enviable position. And yet, when his supposed friend sows doubts in his mind about his wife''s fidelity, he is gradually consumed by suspicion. In this tragedy of strange, ornate beauty and remarkable psychological power, innocence is corrupted, and goodness and happiness are wantonly destroyed.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by Kenneth Muir Introduction by Tom McAlindon
£7.99
Union Square & Co. Julius Caesar No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe Student
Book SynopsisWhy fear Shakespeare? By placing the words of the original play next to line-by-line translations in plain English, this popular guide makes Shakespeare accessible to everyone. And now it features expanded literature guide sections that help students study smarter.
£9.49
HarperCollins Publishers The Tories A Tragedy
Book SynopsisThe brilliant mind behind the Secret Tory presents 14 years of Tory rule as told by William Shakespeare''O, for a muse of fire that would ascendThe brightest heaven of pretention!A kingdom for a stage, Tories to act,Oligarchs to behold the swelling scene!'So begins The Tories: A Tragedy. In this brilliant new work of political satire, Henry Morris presents fourteen years of Conservative (mis)rule in the only form in which such misfortunes could be portrayed: as a Shakespearean play.In five acts that take in five prime ministers, The Tories: A Tragedy is a captivatingly realised Jacobean tragedy, replete with Machiavellian manoeuvrings, hilarious mechanicals and poignant verse. Publishing in the shadow of the most significant election since the Tories came to power in 2010, this exhilarating, original book is an alternative history of a disastrous reign a drama that will appeal to those who love Shakespeare, comedy, Shakespeare's comedies, and those who simply love to laugh at the Tor
£13.49
HarperCollins Publishers Inc Botanical Shakespeare
Book SynopsisA captivating, beautifully illustrated, one-of-a-kind color compendium of the flowers, fruits, herbs, trees, seeds, and grasses cited in the works of the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, accompanied by their companion quotes from all of his plays and poems.Trade Review"BOTANICAL SHAKESPEARE [is] a comprehensive guide to the flora that appears in Shakespeare's work." -- The New York Times "The book [has] stunning illustrations paired with beautiful (and, sometimes, downright bawdy) lines from Shakespeare." -- Paste Magazine "Each plant's one-page entry (a few get two) features a lovely full-color drawing and the line(s) where it appears, fully cited ... Nature buffs and general readers as well as students will enjoy this interesting book, which is suitable for both browsing and quick reference." -- Booklist
£17.00
Penguin Books Ltd Titus Andronicus
Book Synopsis''This is tragedy naked, godless and unredeemed'' Kenneth TynanAn embittered Roman general returns from war, having captured the Queen of the Goths and her three sons. Sacrificing the eldest in memory of his own sons killed in battle, he provokes the queen''s unending hatred. And when she gains power by her marriage to the new emperor of Rome, she quickly begins to plot a murderous revenge of barely conceivable cruelty, in Shakespeare''s first and most savagely bloody tragedy. Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by Sonia MassaiIntroduction by Jacques Berthoud
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd Measure for Measure
Book SynopsisWilliam Shakespeare was born in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and died in 1616. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor of the University of Birmingham and Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.Julia Briggs was professor of English at De Montfort University in Leicester.
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd Richard III
Book Synopsis''Now is the winter of our discontent Made glorious summer by this sun of York''Shakespeare''s final drama of the Wars of the Roses cycle begins as the dust settles on England after bloody civil war, and the bitter hunchback Richard, brother of the king, secretly plots to seize the throne. Charming and duplicitous, powerfully eloquent and viciously cruel, he is prepared to go to any lengths to achieve his goal. Richard III shows a man who, in his skilful manipulation of events and people, is a chilling incarnation of the temptations of power in a land shocked by war.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by E. A. J. HonigmannIntroduction by Michael Taylor
£7.59
Oxford University Press The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Book SynopsisThe Oxford ShakespeareGeneral Editor: Stanley WellsThe Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative texts from leading scholars in editions designed to interpret and illuminate the plays for modern readers.- A new, modern-spelling text, collated and edited from all existing printings- Wide-ranging introduction explores the lyrical language with which Shakespeare dramatizes competing kinds of love- Detailed performance history designed to meet the needs of theatre professionals- On-page commentary and notes explain language, word-play, and staging- the only edition to provide a setting of the song ''Who is Silvia?'' , taken from an Elizabethan source- Illustrated with production photographs and related art- Full index to introduction and commentary- Durable sewn binding for lasting use''not simply a better text but a new conception of Shakespeare'' ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each afforTrade ReviewRoger Warren's edition of the play in the excellent Oxford series is emphatically performance-orientated throughout. * Ruth Morse, Times Literary Supplement *
£7.59
Oxford University Press Titus Andronicus
Book Synopsis''Vengeance is in my heart, death in my hand,Blood and revenge are hammering in my head.''In Shakespeare''s first tragedy, Titus Andronicus, the Roman general Titus incurs the wrath of the Queen of the Goths when he enslaves her and kills one of her sons. The shocking violence of her revenge and his retaliation earn Titus its reputation as Shakespeare''s bloodiest play. This New Oxford Shakespeare edition offers a range of critical approaches to the play, considering its initial popularity in the theatre, the authors'' engagement with narrative sources and Roman history, and the ongoing problems scholars and theatremakers have had with the play''s presentation of violence, rape, and racial difference. Throughout, it incorporates up-to-date scholarship and close readings of a number of landmark productions to consider the play''s place in Shakespeare''s canon and to illustrate Titus Andronicus''s enduring value in interrogating some of wider culture''s darkest and most challenging concerns.The New Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative editions of Shakespeare''s works with introductory materials designed to encourage new interpretations of the plays and poems. Using the text from the landmark The New Oxford Shakespeare Complete Works: Modern Critical Edition, these volumes offer readers the latest thinking on the authentic texts (collated from all surviving original versions of Shakespeare''s work) alongside innovative introductions from leading scholars. The texts are accompanied by a comprehensive set of critical apparatus to give readers the best resources to help understand and enjoy Shakespeare''s work.ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.
£7.59
WW Norton & Co Othello
Book SynopsisThis Norton Critical Edition includes the First Folio text, along with an introduction, explanatory footnotes, note on the text and textual notes.
£16.40
SelfMadeHero Macbeth
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Much Ado About Nothing
Book SynopsisMuch Ado About Nothing presents a battle of the sexes in more ways than one: as both a lightning-fast skirmish of wits between two famously disputatious lovers, and a near-deadly conflict built on conventions of gender and male rivalry. Claire McEachern''s new introduction brings this best-seller right up to date, analysing recent developments in criticism and the latest productions of this comedy.Trade ReviewClaire McEachern’s revised edition of Much Ado about Nothing updates the original introductory material with incisive discussions of gender dynamics, formal and structural characteristics, and stage history. * Studies in English Literature 1500-1900 *Table of ContentsList of illustrations General editors' preface Preface Introduction Much Ado About Nothing Appendix Abbreviations and References Index
£10.90
Nick Hern Books Romeo Juliet
£11.04
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Othello
Book SynopsisThis second edition of Othello has a new, illustrated introduction by leading American scholar Ayanna Thompson, which addresses such key issues as race, religion and gender, as well as looking at ways in which the play has been adapted in more recent times.Othello is one of Shakespeare's great tragedieswritten in the same five-year period as Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth. The new introduction attends to the play's different meanings throughout history, while articulating the historical context in which Othello was created, paying particular attention to Shakespeare's source materials and the evidence about early modern constructions of racial and religious difference. It also explores the life of the play in different historical moments, demonstrating how meanings and performances develop, accrue, and metamorphose over time. The volume provides a rich and current resource, making this best-selling play edition ideal for today''s studentTrade ReviewThe new introduction for the revised edition of Othello by Ayanna Thompson is a welcome reconsideration of the 1997 original Arden3 edition … Thompson’s introduction recognizes and incorporates the vast critical world of early modern race studies that has developed in the past twenty years … [It] is wide-ranging yet absolutely clear, providing a new frame for the play that students and academics alike will find useful for years to come … The superb introduction … opens new avenues of research and frames the play in ways that bring it up to date with the latest scholarship. * Sixteenth Century Journal *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Early Modern Contexts: Sources, Peoples, and Places 2. Genre 3. Sex, Love, and Objects 4. Othello and Scholarly Debates; 5. Othello Onstage, Part 1: Stage Histories 6. Othello Onstage, Part 2: Black Actors, White Actresses 7. Othello Onstage, Part 3: Othello in the World 8. Othello: Restaged/Rewritten; Othello Appendices Bibliography Index
£10.90
Classical Comics Romeo and Juliet: Original Text
Book SynopsisThis is the full and unabridged play as a graphic novel! 'But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun'! This title presents the tragic tale of doomed love, set in Verona, Italy, where the Montagues and the Capulets constantly feud and bring unrest to the city. So how could love possibly survive between this pair of star-crossed lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet? Only Shakespeare could take such a romantic story and turn it into a soul-searching tragedy.
£10.79
Penguin Books Ltd Macbeth
Book SynopsisPromised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, and spurred on by his wife, Macbeth murders King Duncan to ensure his ambitions come true. But he soon learns the meaning of terror - killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return to haunt him.
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd ROMEO AND JULIET
Book SynopsisThe greatest love story in English, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet is a play of star-crossed lovers who take a valiant stand against social convention, with tragic consequences. This Penguin Shakespeare edition is edited with notes by T.J.B. Spencer, and an introduction by Adrian Poole. 'What's in a name? That which we call a rose, By any other name would smell as sweet' The city of Verona, torn apart by the violent feud between the families of Montague and Capulet, is a powder keg waiting to explode; the Prince of Verona, seeking to restore order, has declared any breach of the peace punishable by death. But for the young Montague Romeo, and his lover, the Capulet Juliet, the enmity of their families is immaterial. Meeting in secret, the two lovers gradually spiral towards disaster as their respective families edge closer towards open warfare. A play that has inspired films as diverse as Leonard Bernstein's West Side Story and Baz Luhrmann's Romeo+Juliet, Romeo and Juliet is a
£8.54
Spark Much Ado About Nothing
Book SynopsisNo Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of Much Ado About Nothing on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Book SynopsisWilliam Shakespeare was born in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and died in 1616. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist.Stanley Wells is Emeritus Professor of the University of Birmingham and Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.Norman Sanders was Professor of Shakespeare at the University of Tennessee.Trade Review“A remarkable edition, one that makes Shakespeare’s extraordinary accomplishment more vivid than ever.”—James Shapiro, professor, Columbia University, bestselling author of A Year in the Life of Shakespeare: 1599 “A feast of literary and historical information.”—The Wall Street Journal
£9.25
Penguin Books Ltd Coriolanus
Book Synopsis''Unable to rely on heaven, we look to Shakespeare as a contemporary conscience'' Peter ConradCoriolanus, a famed warrior turned politician, is driven from Rome as a traitor when he arrogantly speaks out against popular rule and loses the good will of the starving people. Banished and embittered, he allies himself with his former enemies and begins to plot a merciless revenge on Rome. Shakespeare''s politically ambiguous late tragedy of a great soldier who fails to be a great leader questions the notion of heroism and what power really means. Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by G. R. Hibbard Introduction by Paul Prescott
£8.54
Oxford University Press The Tragedy of Master Arden of Faversham
£7.59
Oxford University Press William Shakespeare
Book SynopsisIn this new offering from Stanley Wells, the pre-eminent Shakespearian scholar, comes a Very Short Introduction to the life and writings of the world''s greatest and best-known dramatists: William Shakespeare.Looking at his early life and education, Wells explores Shakespeare''s social and intellectual background and the literary traditions on which Shakespeare drew. Examining the theatres and theatrical profession of the time, he also considers how Shakespeare experienced this world, both as an actor and as a writer. Examining Shakespeare''s narrative poems, sonnets, and all of his plays, Wells outlines their sources, style, and originality over the course of Shakespeare''s career, to consider the fundamental impact his work has had for subsequent generations. Written with enthusiasm and flair by a scholar who has devoted a lifetime to the study of Shakespeare and his works, this is an engaging and authoritative introduction. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.Trade ReviewWells approaches his subject matter with refreshing clarity and potent enthusiasm ... his convivial tone is one of this volume's great strengths. * English *an engaging and insightful guide which may inspire its readers to explore not only the author's life and works, but the wealth of contemporary Shakespearean manifestations. * English *So all in all I enjoyed this little book very much, and it made me want to go back to the plays themselves as well as to delve into some recent secondary works. If you think you might have failed to fully appreciate Shakespeare, whether owing to bad teaching or to less than first-rate performances, this is an excellent place to start exploring the life and work of probably the most celebrated dramatist not only in Britain but also throughout the world. * Shiny New Books, Harriet Devine *this is an excellent place to start exploring the life and work of probably the most celebrated dramatist not only in Britain but also throughout the world. * Shiny New Books *Table of ContentsPreface: Why Shakespeare? ; 1. Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon ; 2. Theatre in Shakespeare's time ; 3. Shakespeare in London ; 4. Plays of the 1590s ; 5. Shakespeare and comic form ; 6. Return to tragedy ; 7. The classical plays ; 8. Tragi-comedy ; Epilogue ; Chronology: Shakespeare's works ; Further reading ; Index
£9.49
Oxford University Press thecompleteworks
Book SynopsisThe second Oxford edition of Shakespeare''s Complete Works reconsiders every detail of their text and presentation in the light of modern scholarship. The nature and authority of the early documents are re-examined, and the canon and chronological order of composition freshly established. Spelling and punctuation are modernized, and there is a brief introduction to each work, as well as an illuminating and informative General Introduction. Included here for the first time is the play The Reign of King Edward the Third as well as the full text of Sir Thomas More. This new edition also features an essay on Shakespeare''s language by David Crystal, and a bibliography of foundational works.Trade Reviewremains the most distinctive, and in many ways the best, one-volume Shakespeare currently available and will not be easily replaced. * Forum for Modern Languages *Table of ContentsIntroduction ; Contemporary Allusions to Shakespeare ; Commendatory Poems and Prefaces (1599-1640) ; 1. The Two Gentlemen of Verona ; 2. The Taming of the Shrew ; 3. The First Part of the Contention of the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster (2 Henry VI) ; 4. The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York and the Good King Henry the Sixth (3 Henry VI) ; 5. The First Part of Henry the Sixth ; 6. The Most Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus ; 7. The Tragedy of King Richard the Third ; 8. Venus and Adonis ; 9. The Rape of Lucrece ; 10. The Reign of King Edward the Third ; 11. The Comedy of Errors ; 12. Love's Labour's Lost ; 13. Love's Labour's Won: A Brief Account ; 14. The Tragedy of King Richard the Second ; 15. The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet ; 16. A Midsummer Night's Dream ; 17. The Life and Death of King John ; 18. The Comical History of The Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice ; 19. The History of Henry the Fourth (1 Henry IV) ; 20. The Merry Wives of Windsor ; 21. The Second Part of Henry the Fourth (2 Henry IV) ; 22. Much Ado About Nothing ; 23. The Life of Henry the Fifth ; 24. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar ; 25. As You Like It ; 26. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark ; 27. Twelfth Night, or What You Will ; 28. Troilus and Cressida ; 29. Sonnets and 'A Lover's Complaint' ; 30. Various Poems ; 31. Sir Thomas More ; 32. Measure for Measure ; 33. The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice ; 34. The Life of Timon of Athens ; 35. The History of King Lear: The Quarto Text ; 36. The Tragedy of Macbeth ; 37. The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra ; 38. All's Well That Ends Well ; 39. Pericles, Prince of Tyre: A Reconstructed Text ; 40. The Tragedy of Coriolanus ; 41. The Winter's Tale ; 42. The Tragedy of King Lear: The Folio Text ; 43. Cymbeline, King of Britain ; 44. The Tempest ; 45. Cardenio: A Brief Account ; 46. All Is True (Henry VIII) ; 47. The Two Noble Kinsmen ; Select Glossary
£17.99
Oxford University Press The Taming of the Shrew
Book SynopsisAudiences have always delighted in the robust comedy and verbal inventiveness of The Taming of the Shrew. It has survived many adaptations ranging from, probably, the play printed in 1594 as The Taming of the Shrew through several eighteenth-century versions to modern-dress productions and transformations into ballet, musical, film, and opera.Introducing this new edition, H.J. Oliver pays attention to the play''s theatrical virtues while also providing a deeply considered study of its textual problems, structural complexities, and interpretive challenges. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford World''s Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford''s commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.Trade Review'Stanley Wells' OUP Complete Works of Shakespeare is now eight years old and has spawned a new Oxford Shakespeare which appears now in splendidly affordable volumes in that nonpareil of libraries of good reading The World's Classics.' The Oxford Times
£7.59
WW Norton & Co The Tempest
Book Synopsis
£16.40
Bonnier Books Ltd Classic Comics A Midsummer Nights Dream
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£7.59
Classical Comics Romeo and Juliet Plain Text
Book SynopsisA graphic novel presenting the tragic tale of doomed love, set in Verona, Italy, where the Montagues and the Capulets constantly feud.
£10.79
Little, Brown Book Group She Speaks
Book Synopsis
£17.00
Spark The Tempest (No Fear Shakespeare): Volume 5
Book SynopsisRead Shakespeare’s plays in all their brilliance—and understand what every word means! Don’t be intimidated by Shakespeare! These popular guides make the Bard’s plays accessible and enjoyable.Each No Fear guide contains: The complete text of the original play A line-by-line translation that puts the words into everyday language A complete list of characters, with descriptions Plenty of helpful commentary
£7.59
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Romeo and Juliet
Book SynopsisRomeo and Juliet is the world's most famous drama of tragic young love. Defying the feud which divides their families, Romeo and Juliet enjoy the fleeting rapture of courtship, marriage and sexual fulfilment; but a combination of old animosities and new coincidences brings them to suicidal deaths. This play offers a rich mixture of romantic lyricism, bawdy comedy, intimate harmony and sudden violence. Long successful in the theatre, it has also generated numerous operas, ballets and films; and these have helped to make Romeo and Juliet perennially topical.
£8.54
Dover Publications Inc. Macbeth
Book Synopsis
£5.62
Penguin Books Ltd Pericles
Book SynopsisPericles was Shakespeare''s first full-blown tragicomedy, the precursor to The Winter''s Tale, Cymbeline and The Tempest, and one of his most popular plays in the seventeenth century. This Penguin edition is edited by Eugene Giddens.''One sin, I know, another doth provoke; Murder''s as near to lust as flame to smoke'' Pericles, Prince of Tyre, must solve a riddle in order to marry the daughter of the King of Antioch, or be put to death. But when the answer reveals a horrific secret, the young man faces his greatest dilemma. Danger and adventure follow as Pericles flees the city to find his fortune elsewhere, in a romantic drama of families lost and reunited, evil punished and virtue rewarded.This book contains a general introduction to Shakespeare''s life and Elizabethan theatre, a separate introduction to Pericles, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, an essay discussing performance options on both stage and sTrade Review“A remarkable edition, one that makes Shakespeare’s extraordinary accomplishment more vivid than ever.”—James Shapiro, professor, Columbia University, bestselling author of A Year in the Life of Shakespeare: 1599 “A feast of literary and historical information.”—The Wall Street Journal
£9.25
Penguin Books Ltd Henry V
Book Synopsis''At one and the same time the greatest of all works of English patriotism and a searing critique of warfare'' Jonathan BateYoung King Henry wages war on France. Tainted by his family''s past crimes and with enemies among his own men, he must face the difficult responsibilities of kingship, unite his country and rouse his ''band of brothers'' to battle at Agincourt. An heroic coming-of-age story and a work of stirring patriotic oratory, Henry V also has darker undercurrents that ultimately question the price of military victory.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by A. R. Humphreys with an Introduction by Ann Kaegi
£8.54
Oxford University Press As You Like It
Book Synopsis''We that are true lovers run into strange capers.''Four centuries after its publication in the Folio, As You Like It''s capacity to entertain and instruct remains evergreen. This edition provides a friendly yet authoritative introduction to the play, upholding it as a crowning expression of the Elizabethan Renaissance while underscoring its appeal to twenty-first century readers as Shakespeare''s most intrepid exploration of gender, sexuality, and the environment. Its double-cross-dressed heroine dominates the plot (and their love interest Orlando) to conduct a masterclass in gender fluidity. The melancholic Jaques unmasks the fundamental theatricality of existence and questions humanity''s prerogative to displace and harm other species. Through the clown Touchstone, the comedy tests the possibility that we might laugh ourselves wise, especially when we learn to laugh at ourselves. In the Forest of Arden, we encounter Shakespeare''s most beguiling vision of the natural world as a real
£6.99
