Classic plays / drama
Penguin Books Ltd Hamlet William Shakespeare
Book Synopsis''The Mona Lisa of literature'' T. S. EliotIn Shakespeare''s verbally dazzling and eternally enigmatic exploration of conscience, madness and the nature of humanity, a young prince meets his father''s ghost in the middle of the night, who accuses his own brother - now married to his widow - of murdering him. The prince devises a scheme to test the truth of the ghost''s accusation, feigning wild insanity while plotting revenge. But his actions soon begin to wreak havoc on innocent and guilty alike.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by T. J. B. SpencerIntroduction by Alan SinfieldTrade ReviewPraise for William Shakespeare: Complete Works:“A feast of literary and historical information.” -The Wall Street Journal
£8.54
Union Square & Co. Merchant of Venice No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe
Book SynopsisShakespeare everyone can understandnow in new DELUXE editions! Why fear Shakespeare? By placing the words of the original play next to line-by-line translations in plain English, these popular guides make Shakespeare accessible to everyone. They introduce Shakespeare's world, significant plot points, and the key players. And now they feature expanded literature guide sections that help students study smarter, along with links to bonus content on the Sparknotes.com website. A Q&A, guided analysis of significant literary devices, and review of the play give students all the tools necessary for understanding, discussing, and writing about Merchant of Venice. The expanded content includes:Five Key Questions: Five frequently asked questions about major moments and characters in the play. What Does the Ending Mean?: Is the ending sad, celebratory, ironic . . . or ambivalent? Plot Analysis: What is the play about? How is the story told, and what are the main themes? Why do the charact
£12.11
Pan Macmillan Romeo and Juliet
Book SynopsisSet in a city torn apart by feuds and gang warfare, Romeo and Juliet is a dazzling combination of passion and hatred, bawdy comedy and high tragedy.Part of the Macmillan Collector’s Library; a series of stunning, clothbound, pocket sized classics with gold foiled edges and ribbon markers. These beautiful hardbacks make perfect gifts for book lovers, or wonderful additions to your own collection. This edition features the classic illustrations by Sir John Gilbert, and includes an introduction by Ned Halley.A young man and woman meet by chance and fall instantly in love. But their families are bitter enemies and, in order to be together, the two lovers must be prepared to risk everything. Undoubtedly the greatest love story ever written, Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet has spawned a host of imitators on stage and screen and been adapted countless times.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 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
Pearson Education Limited Heinemann Advanced Shakespeare Othello
Book SynopsisThis text focuses on preparing students for A-Level. It has notes, end-of-act activities, tips from an A-Level Chief Examiner and space for students' own annotations.
£15.84
Can of Worms Press The Tempest
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Random House Sonnets
a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.
£17.09
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Twelfth Night
Book SynopsisEdited, Introduced and Annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare's Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works. The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal. Variously melancholy, lyrical, joyous and farcical, Twelfth Night has long been a popular comedy with Shakespearian audiences. The main plot revolves around mistaken identities and unrequited love. Both Olivia and Orsino are attracted to Viola, who is disguised as a young man; and Viola’s brother, Sebastian, finds that he is loved not only by Antonio but also by Olivia. Meanwhile, in the comic sub-plot, Sir Toby Belch and his companions outwit the vain Malvolio, who is ludicrously humiliated. While offering broad comedy, Twelfth Night teasingly probes gender-roles and sexual ambiguities.
£5.96
Penguin Books Ltd Four Tragedies
Book SynopsisShakespeare''s four greatest tragedies Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet and Othello in a stunning Penguin Clothbound Classics editionThe theme of the great Shakespearean tragedies is a hero''s fall from grace due to a fatal character flaw. Whether it is the ruthless ambition of Macbeth or the folly of Lear, the irresolution of Hamlet or the suspicion of Othello, the cause of the tragedy even when it is the murder of a king is trifling compared to the calamity that it unleashes. Despite their flawed natures, however, the tragic protagonists all have a nobility that emphasizes the greatness of humanity. From this paradox the audience is brought to a greater understanding of and sympathy with suffering.The four tragedies in this collection are accompanied by notes and an introduction to each text.
£19.00
Can of Worms Press King Lear
Book Synopsis
£9.49
Little, Brown Book Group She Speaks
Book Synopsis
£17.00
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
Spark Hamlet (No Fear Shakespeare): Volume 3
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 Shakespeare into everyday language A complete list of characters with descriptions Plenty of helpful commentary
£7.99
Wordsworth Editions Ltd The Taming of the Shrew
Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare's Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works. The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal. The Taming of the Shrew is one of the most famous and controversial of Shakespeare’s comedies. The central relationship, in which Petruchio boisterously ‘tames’ a rebellious Kate, has often appeared problematic. In the theatre, it has been treated in a diversity of ways, so that Kate’s apparent capitulation varies between the ironic and the sincere. Feminists have been divided in their responses. The provocative vitality of this comedy has been transmitted by numerous adaptations for stage and screen, notably the film directed by Franco Zeffirelli and the Cole Porter musical, Kiss Me, Kate.
£5.96
Spark The Taming of the Shrew
Book SynopsisNo Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of The Taming of the Shrew on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.
£7.99
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Measure for Measure
Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. In the hope of saving her brother's life, should a woman submit to rape? Should the law be respected when its administrator is corrupt? How powerful in the state should religion become? Although Measure for Measure ends like a comedy, with reconciliations, forgiveness and marriages, it has often been regarded as one of Shakespeare's problem plays. The drama shows the difficulty of effecting an appropriate balance between judicial severity and mercy, between sexual repression and decadence, and between political vigilance and social manipulation. These problems remain topical, and, in Measure for Measure, they are given immediacy by vivid character-conflicts and memorably intense poetry. This is one of Shakespeare's most probing and powerful works.
£5.96
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
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
Union Square & Co. Macbeth 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
Arcturus Publishing The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
£44.99
SelfMadeHero The Tempest
Book SynopsisIllustrated by leading UK manga artists, this series feeds into the growing popularity of manga worldwide, and presents Shakespeare''s classic works in a highly visual and dynamic form.Shakespeare''s tale of fantasy has fascinated audiences for centuries. The perfect platform for a new generation to fall in love with Shakespeare''s genius. Prospero, robbed of his dukedom, is marooned on a wild island with his daughter Miranda. He uses his magic skills to shipwreck his usurping brother and those who exiled him. Prospero calls forth the spirit Ariel to torment the castaways, but it is the greater power of love that triumphs.
£9.49
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC Macbeth
Book SynopsisMacbeth is one of Shakespeare's most performed and studied tragedies. This major new Arden edition offers students detailed on-page commentary notes highlighting meaning and theatrical ideas and themes, as well as an illustrated, lengthy introduction setting the play in its historical, theatrical and critical context and outlining the recent debates about Middleton's possible co-authorship of some scenes. A comprehensive and informative edition ideal for students and teachers seeking to explore the play in depth, whether in the classroom or on the stage.Trade ReviewThis is a splendid edition: it incorporates the most recent modern scholarship ... and it does so within a compass and format that is both readable and usable. -- Neil Rhodes, University of St. Andrews, UK * Around the Globe *A much needed third series edition of Macbeth, which provides the reader with a breath of fresh scholarship after over 30 years. * Jarrod DePrado, Sacred Heart University, USA *Table of ContentsPreface List of Illustrations Introduction Macbeth Appendices Further Reading Index
£10.90
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
Union Square & Co. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Barnes
Book SynopsisHamlet. Romeo and Juliet. Henry V. Macbeth. A Midsummer Night's Dream. King Lear. Lovers of literature will immediately recognise these as signature works of William Shakespeare. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare collects all thirty-seven of the immortal Bard's comedies, tragedies, and historical plays in a beautiful edition.
£34.00
Oxford University Press Romeo and Juliet
Book Synopsis''A pair of star-crossed lovers take their life''This edition provides a clear and accessible introduction to Shakespeare''s enduring tale of ill-fated lovers. Hannah August pays particular attention to the dramatic function of the famous prologue and the significance of the play''s ending. August also explores ways of reading the play as a text that queries rather than validates the tenets of heterosexual romantic love, proving that at multiple points throughout the play''s four-hundred-years-plus stage history, Verona has been more queer than the prevailing view of Romeo and Juliet as a core text of heterosexual love might lead us to believe. It includes a substantial section which addresses the play''s early modern production and reception history in both print and performance, as well as providing an overview of later performance traditions drawing on up-to-date examples of key productions.The New Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative editions of Shakespeare''s works with introdu
£6.99
Pan Macmillan Twelfth Night
Book SynopsisShakespeare’s gentle melancholy, enlivened by a comic sub-plot of considerable accomplishment, has long made Twelfth Night a favourite with Shakespearian audiences.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.Separated from her twin brother Sebastian after a shipwreck, Viola disguises herself as a boy to serve the Duke of Illyria. Wooing a countess on his behalf, she is stunned to find herself the object of his beloved's affections. With the arrival of Viola's brother, and a trick played upon Malvolio, the countess's steward, confusion reigns in this romantic comedy of mistaken identity.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
Oxford University Press Twelfth Night or What You Will The Oxford
Book SynopsisTwelfth Night is one of the most popular of Shakespeare's plays in performance, and this edition emphasizes its theatrical qualities in both the introduction and the full and detailed commentary. Where the original music has not survived, James Walker has composed settings compatible with the surviving originals, freshly edited, so that this edition, uniquely, offers all the music required to perform the play.Trade ReviewThe commentary on Twelfth Night is alive with the editors' feeling for the play in performance. * M.M. Mahoud, University of Kent, YES, 27, 1996 *
£7.59
Spark Julius Caesar (No Fear Shakespeare): Volume 4
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 Shakespeare into everyday language A complete list of characters, with descriptions Plenty of helpful commentary
£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 The Merchant of Venice (No Fear Shakespeare):
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
Pan Macmillan Hamlet: Prince of Denmark
Book SynopsisShakespeare’s combination of violence, introspection, dark humour and rich language in Hamlet is intoxicating. It remains the world's most widely studied and performed play, and is a cornerstone of world literature.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 renowned artist Sir John Gilbert and includes an introduction by Dr Robert Mighall.A young prince meets with his father's ghost, who alleges that his own brother, now married to his widow, murdered him. The prince devises a scheme to test the truth of the ghost's accusation, feigning wild madness while plotting a brutal revenge until his apparent insanity begins to wreak havoc on innocent and guilty alike.Trade ReviewThe most modern of Shakespeare's plays by some margin * Independent *Every 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
Vintage Publishing HagSeed
Book SynopsisMargaret Atwood is the author of more than fifty books of fiction, poetry and critical essays. Her novels include Cat's Eye, The Robber Bride, Alias Grace, The Blind Assassin and the MaddAddam trilogy. Her 1985 classic, The Handmaid's Tale, was followed in 2019 by a sequel, The Testaments, which was a global number one bestseller and shared the Booker Prize. Her most recent publications are the poetry collections Dearly and Paper Boat; Burning Questions, a selection of essays; and Old Babes in the Wood, a volume of short stories. Atwood is a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour, and has won numerous awards including the Arthur C. Clarke Award for Imagination in Service to Society, the Franz Kafka Prize, the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade, the PEN USA Lifetime Achievement Award and the Dayton Literary Peace Prize. She has also worked as a cartoonist, illustrator, librettist, pTrade ReviewRiotous, insanely readable and just the best fun... The novel builds to a fantastic climax of dark calamity... There is so much exuberance and heart and wonder in this novel that the only thing I want to happen next is for Atwood to rewrite the whole of Shakespeare. (No offence, Will.) -- Viv Groskop * Observer *A triumph... The book illuminates the breadth and depth of the whole play. The troupe's workshops on it fizz with perception as Atwood transmits the pleasurable buzz of exploring a literary masterpiece. There won't be a more glowing tribute to Shakespeare in his 400th anniversary year -- Peter Kemp * Sunday Times *Atwood reinterprets the play as a heartbreaking novel, told in gorgeous yet economical prose -- Editor's Choice * New York Times Book Review *Surpassingly brilliant... without question the cleverest "neo-Shakespearean novel" I have ever read... the learning and the critical analysis are worn exceptionally lightly, always subordinated to wit, invention, characterisation and slick twists of plot... wonderfully ingenious -- Jonathan Bate * The Times *An absolute triumph... ravishing... I am not ashamed to say that I didn't just have a lump in my throat by the end of Hag-Seed, I had tears on the fringed curtains of mine eyes -- Stuart Kelly * Scotland on Sunday *
£9.49
Spark Hamlet No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe Student Edition
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
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
Union Square & Co. Romeo and Juliet No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe
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
SelfMadeHero Romeo and Juliet
Book SynopsisShakespeare''s famous tragedy unfurls in front of a dramatic manga setting, in which the fair city of Verona becomes a street in the highly fashionable Shibuya district of Tokyo.The swordfights become duals with katanas; the Capulets and the Montagues, opposing Yakuza families. Conflict explodes when Romeo - a bleached-blonde, well-dressed rock star - falls in love with Juliet, the pure and innocent Capulet daughter.
£9.49
Penguin Books Ltd Much Ado About Nothing Penguin Classics
Book Synopsis''We go to Shakespeare to find out about ourselves'' Jeanette WintersonBeatrice and Benedick both claim they are determined never to marry. But when their friends trick them into believing that each harbours secret feelings for the other, the pair begin to question whether their witty banter and verbal sparring conceal something deeper. Schemes abound, dangerous misunderstandings proliferate and matches are eventually made in this dazzling, dark-edged comedy of mature love and second chances. Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by R. A. FoakesIntroduction by Janette DillonTrade ReviewPraise for William Shakespeare: Complete Works:“A feast of literary and historical information.” —The Wall Street Journal
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd Is This a Dagger Which I See Before Me
Book Synopsis''And when I shall die,Take him and cut him out in little stars.''This collection of Shakespeare''s soliloquies, including both old favourites and lesser-known pieces, shows him at his dazzling best.One of 46 new books in the bestselling Little Black Classics series, to celebrate the first ever Penguin Classic in 1946. Each book gives readers a taste of the Classics'' huge range and diversity, with works from around the world and across the centuries - including fables, decadence, heartbreak, tall tales, satire, ghosts, battles and elephants.
£5.63
Manchester University Press Shakespeare's Cinema of Love: A Study in Genre
Book SynopsisThis engaging and stimulating book argues that Shakespeare's plays significantly influenced movie genres in the twentieth century, particularly in films concerning love in the classic Hollywood period. Shakespeare's 'green world' has a close functional equivalent in 'tinseltown' and on 'the silver screen', as well as in hybrid genres in Bollywood cinema. Meanwhile, Romeo and Juliet continues to be an enduring source for romantic tragedy on screen. The nature of generic indebtedness has not gained recognition because it is elusive and not always easy to recognise. The book traces generic links between Shakespeare's comedies of love and screen genres such as romantic comedy, 'screwball' comedy and musicals, as well as clarifying the use of common conventions defining the genres, such as mistaken identity, 'errors', disguise and 'shrew-taming'. This challenging and entertaining book will appeal to those interested in Shakespeare, movies and the representation of love in narratives.Trade Review‘R.S. White’s timely book on the influence of Shakespeare on Hollywood cinema offers a refreshing account of the ‘contestatory and symbiotic’ relationship between Shakespeare’s generic innovations and the development of cinematic genres in early Hollywood.’ David McInnis, Australian Book Review June 2017 -- .Table of ContentsIntroduction: Shakespeare shaping modern movie genres1.'Madly mated': The Taming of the Shrew and odd-couple comedy2. Dreams in the forest: romantic comedy3. 'The guy's only doing it for some doll': musical comedy4. Of errors and Eros: a brief digression on twins5. Comedy of disguise and mistaken identity6. 'Star-crossed lovers': Romeo and Juliet and romantic tragedyConclusionBibliographyIndex
£17.85
Spark King Lear (No Fear Shakespeare): Volume 6
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
Cambridge University Press Othello
Book SynopsisThis third edition of Othello features a completely new, illustrated introduction, together with an updated commentary, notes and a revised reading list, providing students with a deep and up-to-date resource.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Note on the text; List of characters; The play; Supplementary notes; Textual analysis; Reading list.
£12.29
Wordsworth Editions Ltd The Winter's Tale
Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, M.A., Ph.D., Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. The Winter's Tale, one of Shakespeare's later romantic comedies, offers a striking and challenging mixture of tragic and violent events, lyrical love-speeches, farcical comedy, pastoral song and dance, and, eventually, dramatic revelations and reunions. Thematically, there is a rich orchestration of the contrasts between age and youth, corruption and innocence, decline and regeneration. Both Leontes' murderous jealousy and Perdita's love-relationship with Florizel are eloquently intense. In the theatre, The Winter's Tale often proves to be diversely entertaining and deeply moving.
£5.96
Classical Comics Romeo and Juliet (Classical Comics)
Book SynopsisThis is the full play in quick modern English for a fast-paced read! '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.
£9.99
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Macbeth (Collector's Edition)
Book SynopsisShakespeare’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.
£8.54
Scholastic Macbeth
Book SynopsisWhen three sinister witches tell Macbeth that power and glory couldbe within his grasp, he murders the king in a bid to ensure hisfuture. But he soon sees the error of his ways, for if you killonce, you will kill again - and the dead will return to haunt youfor your sins.
£6.99
Oxford University Press The Merchant of Venice The Oxford Shakespeare
Book SynopsisWhat was Shakespeare''s attitude to Semitism? The Introduction to this edition of The Merchant of Venice opens by addressing this vital issue raised by the play, and goes on to study the sources, background, and date, includuing a discussion of Sigmund Freud''s essay on ''The Three Caskets''. Professor Halio interprets the play''s contradictions, inconsistencies, and complementarities, especially as these relate to the overarching theme of bonds and bondage. A survey of the play''s stage history ranges from discussions of its early staging to important twentieth-century productions and performances outside England, particularly in Israel.The text, based on a fresh examination of the early editions, is presented in modernized spelling and punctuation. Unfailingly lucid and helpful, this is an ideal edition for students, actors, and the general reader. 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 ReviewThe annotation, generally proficient, is admirably frank in rendering sexual doubles entendres and is frequently illuminating in its references to modes of staging ... As in the other volumes of this Oxford Shakespeare series, there is a good range of pictorial material and a very useful index ... this edition of The Merchant of Venice is creditable, lucid, and practical. * Cedric Watts, University of Sussex, Review of English Studies, Vol. 47, No. 186, May '96 *
£7.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Tempest
Book Synopsis''The magic in The Tempest is real ... It contains a great many unanswered questions'' Margaret AtwoodA storm rages. Prospero and his daughter watch from their desert island as a ship carrying the royal family is wrecked. Miraculously, all on board survive. Plotting, mistaken identities, bewitching love and enchantment follow as the travellers explore this mysterious place of spirits and monsters, and discover that all is not as it seems. Shakespeare''s late, great play is a work filled with marvels, music and strangeness, fully exploiting the power of language and the magic of theatre.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited with an Introduction by Martin Butler
£7.99
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC A Midsummer Nights Dream
Book SynopsisThe Arden Shakespeare is the established edition of Shakespeare''s work. Justly celebrated for its authoritative scholarship and invaluable commentary, Arden editions guide you to a richer understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare''s plays. This edition of A Midsummer Night''s Dream provides a clear and authoritative text, detailed notes and commentary on the same page as the text and a full introduction discussing the critical and historical background to the play. The editor brings fresh perspectives on global productions and adaptations of this most-loved of Shakespeare''s comedies.Table of ContentsList of Illustrations General editors’ Preface Preface INTRODUCTION STAGE, SCREEN, ART The play in its time: staging and casting British productions: Restoration to nineteenth century British productions: the twentieth century and after Europe Beyond Europe Other media: cinema, music, art SOURCES AND ANALOGUES: FAIRIES AND MORTALS Fairies and fairy lore Ovid: the classics and the fairies Pyramus and Thisbe Theseus and Hippolyta: Plutarch, Chaucer and Shakespeare THEMES AND DESIGNS Pastoral: the forest Dreamers and Lovers Patriarchy Carnival, class, court Theatre, art and illusion The comedy of compromise LANGUAGE AND VERSE A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM Appendix 1: Casting Chart Appendix 2:Date and Occasion Appendix 3: The Text Abbreviations and References Index
£10.90
