Classic plays / drama
Wordsworth Editions Ltd The Complete Works of William Shakespeare
Book Synopsis
£23.99
Dover Publications Inc. A Midsummer Nights Dream
Book SynopsisAmong the most popular of all Shakespeare''s comedies, this play humorously celebrates the vagaries of love. With its several pairs of lovers, on-again, off-again romances, magic spells, fairies, and a bumbling troupe of would-be actors, the play continues to enchant audiences. Unabridged reprint of an authoritative British edition, complete with explanatory footnotes.
£5.62
Broadview Press Ltd A Doll's House
Book SynopsisThis edition of one of the Western canon's most iconic plays brings back into print the pivotal 1890 translation by William Archer. It was this translation that was largely responsible for the huge impact that A Doll's House had in the English-speaking world, igniting as it did, in the words of one critic, 'a firestorm of critical debate and dissent' about marriage and women's rights. Accompanying the comprehensively annotated text of the play is a substantial introduction that combines critical analysis with biographical and historical context. An extensive series of appendices provides extracts from contemporary adaptations of A Doll's House; writings by William Archer and Bernard Shaw about the play; reviews of early productions in London, New York, Montreal, and Sydney; contemporary documents relating to Ibsen and feminism; and views of actresses on playing the role of Nora.Trade ReviewWith its balanced introduction and thoughtfully selected contextual materials (parodies, performance reviews, and more), Leonard Conolly's volume is a valuable and accessible resource for first-year drama students and seasoned Ibsen scholars alike. It allows twenty-first-century readers to see with fresh clarity the controversy that Ibsen's play sparked nearly a hundred and fifty years ago-and to recognize, perhaps, that the debate has not subsided quite yet." - Mary Christian, Middle Georgia State University"This excellent edition of A Doll's House shows twenty-first-century readers exactly why Ibsen's play galvanized their nineteenth-century counterparts-and why its impact remains apparent on our stages, in our classrooms, and in the societies of which they are a part. Conolly provides the critical analysis and historical context necessary to understand what aspects of the play and its author were, and were not, considered revolutionary in multiple national and theatrical settings. Conolly's contributions to this volume make for lively and informative reading, and his presentation of William Archer's translation makes the play-text clear and accessible for today's students. The well-selected appendix materials make for useful and enjoyable reading in and of themselves-especially the adaptations, 'sequels,' parodies, and Ibsen's own alternative ending. As a teacher of modern drama, I have long hoped for an edition of A Doll's House that was as suitable for students as this one-and now, I am glad to say, I have it." - Jennifer Buckley, University of IowaTable of ContentsAcknowledgementsIntroduction Henrik Ibsen and A Doll's House: A Brief ChronologyA Note on the TextA Doll's HouseA Note on Nora's Final ExitAppendix A: Contemporary Adaptations, Sequels, and Parodies 1. From a letter from Ibsen to a Danish newspaper regarding the ending of the play (17 February 1880) 2. Ibsen's alternative ending (1880) 3. From Henry Arthur Jones and Henry Herman, Breaking a Butterfly (1882) 4. From August Strindberg, 'A Doll's House' (1884) 5. From Walter Besant, 'The Doll's House—and After,' The English Illustrated Magazine (October 1890) 6. From Ednah Dow Cheney, Nora's Return: A Sequel to The Doll's House (1890) 7. From Israel Zangwill and Eleanor Marx-Aveling, 'A Doll's House Repaired,' Time (March 1891) 8. From F. Anstey, 'Nora; or, The Bird-Cage,' Mr Punch's Pocket Ibsen (1893) Appendix B: William Archer and A Doll's House 1. From Archer's review of the first performance in England of A Doll's House, Dramatic Review (4 April 1885) 2. From a letter to Charles Archer (13 June 1889) 3. From 'Ibsen and English Criticism,' Fortnightly Review (July 1889) 4. From William Archer, The Theatrical 'World' for 1893 (1894) 5. From The Collected Works of Henrik Ibsen (1906) Appendix C: Bernard Shaw and A Doll's House 1. On A Doll's House, Penny Illustrated Paper (1 June 1889) 2. From Shaw's review of A Doll's House, Manchester Guardian (8 June 1889) 3. From a letter to William Archer (11 June 1889) 4. From 'Still after the Doll's House,' Time (February 1890) 5. From The Quintessence of Ibsenism (1891) 6. From 'A Doll's House Again,' Saturday Review (15 May 1897) 7. From 'The Technical Novelty in Ibsen's Plays,' The Quintessence of Ibsenism (1913) Appendix D: The Critics 1. In London a. From The Era (28 March 1885) b. From The Times (8 June 1889) c. From The Globe (8 June 1889) d. From The Daily Telegraph (8 June 1889) e. From The Pall Mall Gazette (8 June 1889) f. From The Spectator (21 June 1889) g. From Clement Scott, 'A Doll's House,' The Theatre (1 July 1889) 2. In America a. From The Courier-Journal [Louisville, Kentucky] (8 December 1883) b. From The New York Times (27 September 1889) c. From The Boston Globe (31 October 1889) d. From The [New York] Sun (22 December 1889) e. From The New York Times (22 December 1889) f. From The [New York] Evening World (23 December 1889) g. From The [New York] Sun (16 February 1894) h. From The [New York] Evening World (7 June 1895) 3. In Montreal and Sydney a. From The [Montreal] Gazette (18 February 1890) b. From The Sydney Morning Herald (19 July 1890) Appendix E: Feminism 1. Henrik Ibsen, 'Notes for the Tragedy of Modern Times' (19 October 1878) 2. From Henrietta Frances Lord, preface to her translation of A Doll's House (1882) 3. From August Strindberg, preface to Getting Married (1884) 4. From Havelock Ellis, The New Spirit (1890) 5. From Ellen Battelle Dietrick, 'The Doll's House—T'Other Side,' Women's Penny Paper (15 and 22 March 1890) 6. From Annie Nathan Meyer, 'Ibsen's Attitude Towards Woman,' The Critic [New York] (22 March 1890) 7. From Max Nordau, Degeneration (1895) 8. From Ibsen's speech to the Norwegian Women's Rights League (26 May 1898) 9. From Louie Bennett, 'Ibsen as a Pioneer of the Woman Movement,' The Westminster Review (March 1910) Appendix F: Acting Nora 1. From 'Nora Helmer off for the Antipodes: An Interview with Miss Janet Achurch,' The Pall Mall Gazette (5 July 1889) 2. From 'Ethel Barrymore on Nora Helmer' (6 May 1905) 3. Alla Nazimova, 'Ibsen's Women,' The Independent (17 October 1907) 4. From Elizabeth Robins, Ibsen and the Actress (1928) 5. From Liv Ullmann, Changing (1976) Works Cited and Select Bibliography
£18.00
HarperCollins Publishers King Lear
Book SynopsisExam board: AQA B, Edexcel, Eduqas, Cambridge Assessment International EducationLevel & Subject: AS and A level English LiteratureFirst teaching: September 2015; September 2019Next exams: 2024Trade Review“The new Collins Classroom Classic editions are perfect for schools – clear text, bright covers, a good size for pockets and bags, and a great price that makes buying new class or cohort sets very attractive in these budget-conscious times.” de Stafford School
£999.99
Penguin Books Ltd The Comedy of Errors
Book Synopsis''After God, Shakespeare has created most'' Alexandre DumasTwo sets of identical twins, separated at sea as babies, find themselves in the same city for the first time as adults. Soon, their friends mistake the twins for one another and bewilderment abounds. Joyful, mystical and brilliantly farcical, Shakespeare''s shortest play is an early romantic comedy of confusion and ultimate reunion.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by Stanley WellsIntroduction by Randall MartinTrade ReviewPraise for William Shakespeare: Complete Works“Remarkable . . . 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
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd King Lear
Book Synopsis''The most perfect specimen of the dramatic art existing in the world'' Percy Bysshe ShelleyShakespeare''s bleak and brutal tragedy begins when an ageing king, seeking a successor, rejects the young daughter who loves him and misplaces his trust in her malevolent sisters. In return they strip him of his power and condemn him to a wretched wasteland of horror and insanity. Set in a pitiless universe, King Lear is a towering, elemental masterpiece of fierce poetry and vast imaginative scope.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by George HunterIntroduction by Kiernan Ryan
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd The Winters Tale
Book Synopsis''The work of Shakespeare is virtually infinite'' Jorge Luis BorgesA jealous king, convinced that his wife has been unfaithful and is having another man''s baby, imprisons her and puts her on trial. The child is abandoned to die, but when she is found and raised by a shepherd, it seems redemption may be possible. A bravura blend of tragedy, comedy and romance, Shakespeare''s emotionally potent late play explores artifice and nature, mortality and renewal, and the destructive and consoling effects of time.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley Wells Edited by Ernest Schanzer Introduction by Russ McDonald
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd The Merry Wives of Windsor
Book SynopsisWilliam Shakespeare''s comic encore for one of his best-loved characters - the rascally Falstaff from Henry IV and Henry V - The Merry Wives of Windsor is edited by G.R. Hibbard with an introduction by Catherine Richardson in Penguin Shakespeare.''We''ll leave a proof, by that which we will do,Wives may be merry, and yet honest too''In need of money, the fat and foolish Falstaff devises a scheme to seduce two married women and steal their husbands'' wealth. By talking to each other, however, the wives soon discover his plan and begin to plot their own revenge. Relentlessly inventive, this comic humiliation of a foolish would-be seducer is a lively, compelling and ultimately joyous celebration of the all-conquering power of laughter.This book contains a general introduction to Shakespeare''s life and Elizabethan theatre, a separate introduction to The Merry Wives of Windsor, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, an essaTrade ReviewPraise for William Shakespeare: Complete Works“Remarkable . . . 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
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 King Henry VIII or All is True
Book Synopsis''Men''s evil manners live in brass, their virtuesWe write in water.''Henry VIII or All is True is Shakespeare''s retelling of one of the defining periods in English history: the marriage and divorce of Henry VIII and Katherine of Aragon. Written in the wake of the sudden death of Henry Stuart, King James I and VI''s oldest son and heir, Shakespeare''s most ''contemporary'' history play offers provocative parallels between the Tudor past and Stuart present. The play examines the rise and fall of Cardinal Wolsey, Thomas Cranmer, and Anne Boleyn, providing both a meditation on history as a narrative dictated by Church and State, and on the tragic lives of those who become collateral damage to greater forces.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 Timon of Athens The Oxford Shakespeare
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- On-page commentary and notes explain meaning, staging, language, and allusions- Detailed introduction provides a full account of the play''s performance history and explores issues of gender, gift-theory, and ecology- Appendices include source materials and a chronology of major productions worldwide- 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. This is a major achievement of twentieth-century scholarship.''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 volTrade Review...highly recommended * Dieter Mehl, Archiv *
£14.09
Thomas Nelson Publishers Shakespeare in Autumn Seasons Edition Fall
Book SynopsisShakespeare in Autumn: Select Plays and the Complete Sonnets, by William Shakespeare, the greatest writer in the English language, is available in a fine exclusive collector’s edition featuring a laser-cut jacket on a textured book with foil stamping, making it ideal for fiction lovers and book collectors alike. Each collectible volume will be the perfect addition to any well-appointed library.The Shakespeare in Autumn Seasons Edition--Fall: Features selected works from William Shakespeare, history’s greatest and most influential writer of the English language. His poetry and plays have been recited and studied for generation upon generation and remain iconic works of literature Presents a small yet wide-reaching collection of the Bard’s finest works, including The Taming of the Shrew, Romeo and Juliet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night, and the complete sonnets Is distinctively and seasonally nuanced for autumnal reading Explores such important themes as love and romance, the economic ramifications of marriage, the immutable irreversibility of fate, the destructive nature of jealousy, the power dynamics of relationships, and the absurdity of ambition Is ideal for special-edition book collectors, fans of literary fiction and classic literature, Anglophiles, and people who love all things Shakespearean and the many cinematic adaptations of the Bard’s work Whether you’re buying this as a gift or as a self-purchase, this remarkable limited edition features: Beautiful hardcover with a distinctive one-of-a-kind, high-end/high-treatment laser-cut jacket, perfect for standing out on any discerning fiction-lover’s bookshelf Trim Size: 6 x 9 Beautiful decorative interior pages featuring pull quotes distributed throughout An exquisite matching laser-cut bookmark Part of a 4-volume Fall Seasons series including Anne of Green Gables, Dracula, and Sense and Sensibility William Shakespeare has been lauded as one of history’s greatest and most influential writers of the English language. His poems and plays have been recited and studied for generations, and remain iconic works of literature. Shakespeare in Autumn includes a nuanced selection of Shakespeare’s finest works, including: A Midsummer Night’s Dream Twelfth Night As You Like It The Taming of the Shrew Romeo and Juliet The Sonnets Shakespeare in Autumn: Select Plays and the Complete Sonnets by William Shakespeare (Seasons Edition--Fall) is one of four titles available in the Fall Seasons series. The Fall collection also includes Anne of Green Gables, Dracula, and Sense and Sensibility.
£17.09
Arcturus Publishing Julius Caesar
Book SynopsisAs the Roman Republic teeters on the brink of collapse, the charismatic general Julius Caesar''s meteoric rise to power sends shockwaves through the city. Yet, his growing influence stirs fear and jealousy among his peers, including the noble Brutus and the cunning Cassius, who conspire to assassinate him in a bid to preserve the ideals of the Republic. A dark tale of absolute power, corruption and betrayal, Julius Caesar was first performed in 1599 and its themes remain hugely resonant today.This edition is based on the First Folio and includes an extensive introduction that examines the origins of the work, the plot and the characters as well as notes on the text, a glossary and a timeline of Shakespeare''s life and work.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Arcturus Shakespeare Editions series brings together many of Shakespeare''s celebrated plays, presented with striking contemporary cover designs. Each edition is based on the First Folio and includes an
£7.59
Spark The Comedy of Errors
Book SynopsisNo Fear Shakespeare gives you the complete text of The Comedy of Errors on the left-hand page, side-by-side with an easy-to-understand translation on the right.
£7.99
Union Square & Co. Twelfth Night No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe Student
Book SynopsisAge range 14+ Shakespeare everyone can understand - now in new DELUXE editions!
£9.49
Skyhorse Publishing Brick Shakespeare: Four Tragedies & Four Comedies
Book SynopsisNever before have Shakespeare’s plays been depicted in LEGO bricks, and now Brick Shakespeare: The Tragedies—Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Julius Caesar and Brick Shakespeare: The Comedies—A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and The Taming of the Shrew are available in one extraordinary hardcover box set.With over two thousand color photographs depicting the most well-known scenes in some of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays (including a bonus double-sided, full-color poster), this box set is the perfect gift for your LEGO- and Shakespeare-loving friends and family!Fall in love with LEGO Juliet on her balcony as Romeo proclaims his love. See the full effect of Lady Macbeth’s manic “Out, out, damn spot!” in a whole new way. Laugh along with LEGO Puck as he mischievously hassles the lovers in the woods. Cast a storm with brick Prospero as he strands his usurping brother on his deserted island.With this beautiful, two-book collector’s set, you can continue to be amazed by Shakespeare as illustrated by your favorite toy.
£21.25
Flame Tree Publishing Sonnets & Poems of William Shakespeare
Book Synopsis Shakespeare's sonnets are amongst the most admired, complex and beautiful poems ever written. This gorgeous new collection includes sonnets from Romeo and Juliet, Henry V and Love's Labour's Lost, to create a comprehensive collection from the greatest writer of the English poetic form. Little treasures, the FLAME TREE COLLECTABLE CLASSICS are chosen to create a delightful and timeless home library. Each stunning, gift edition features deluxe cover treatments, ribbon markers, luxury endpapers and gilded edges. The original text is accompanied by a Glossary of Victorian and Literary terms produced for the modern reader.
£8.54
Everyman Comedies Volume 1
Book SynopsisThe everyman Signet Shakespeare series continues with the first volume of Comedies containing The Comedy of Errors, The taming of the Shrew, The Two Gentlemen of Verona. It also includes Loves Labour's Lost, Romeo and Juliet (sic) and A Midsummer Night's Dream.
£12.99
Everyman Romances: The Last Plays
Book SynopsisCompleting the 8 volume Everyman Signet Shakespeare contains Shakespeare series, this final volume contains Shakespeare's four Last Plays - THE TEMPEST, PERICLES, THE WINTER'S TALE AND CYMBELINE. The beautifully produced, single-column text of the plays, with the Signet footnotes, is supplemented with bibliographies, a detailed chronology of Shakespear's life and times, and a substantial introduction in which Professor Tony Tanner discusses each play individually while setting each in context.
£15.19
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC King Henry VIII: Third Series
Book SynopsisKing Henry VIII has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a new perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play, revealing it as a complex meditation on the progress of Reformation which sees English life since Henry VIII's day as a series of bewildering changes in national and personal allegiance and represents 'history' as the product of varied and contradictory testimony. McMullan makes a powerful claim for the rehabilitation of Henry VIII, providing the fullest performance history of any edition to date and reading the work not as a marginal 'late' Shakespeare play but as a play which is paradigmatic of the achievement of Renaissance drama as a whole.'This is a staggeringly brilliant, captivating edition that will undoubtedly occasion a huge surge of critical interest in this neglected play. For those of use who have never taken Henry VIII very seriously ' perhaps dismissing it as a late collaborative play of no consequence or as conservative propaganda ' McMullan's introduction is genuinely revelatory.' Eric Rasmussen, University of Nevada at Reno, Shakespeare Survey
£11.99
Pan Macmillan The Merchant of Venice
Book SynopsisInitially described as a comedy, Shakespeare's explorations of prejudice, duty and the nature of justice make The Merchant of Venice a far darker, more alluring play.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 Ned Halley.The Merchant of Venice is most associated not with its titular hero, Antonio, but with the complex, unforgettable figure of the money-lender, Shylock. It is Shylock who finances Antonio's friend Bassanio in his pursuit of the beautiful Portia, and who demands a gruesome bond from the wealthy merchant.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
Pan Macmillan King Richard III
Book SynopsisShakespeare’s skillful manipulation of events and people makes Richard III a chilling incarnation of the lure of evil and the temptation of power.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 Ned Halley.Richard, Duke of Gloucester – the bitter, deformed brother of the King – is secretly plotting to seize the throne of England. Charming and duplicitous, powerfully eloquent and viciously cruel, he is prepared to go to any lengths to achieve his goal.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
Salamander Street Limited Chatsky & Miser, Miser! Two Plays by Anthony
Book SynopsisAnthony Burgess was an energetic writer and composer, whose work for the stage is widely admired. In Two Plays, we see him tackling major monuments of French and Russian theatre: The Miser by Molière and Chatsky by Alexander Griboyedov. Miser, Miser! is a bold reworking of Molière’s classic comedy of 1668. Harpagon the miser is hoarding a pile of gold, which he has buried in his garden. As he tries to sell off his daughter, catch himself a beautiful young bride and outwit his scheming household of clever servants, the comedy of errors intensifies. Although the original French play is written in prose, Burgess remakes it in a mixture of verse and prose, in the style of his famous adaptation of Cyrano de Bergerac. This translation, discovered in the author’s archive, is the work of a writer at the height of his powers, reinventing Molière for modern audiences. Chatsky, subtitled ‘The Importance of Being Stupid’ is another verse comedy. The theme is that of the intellectual hero who rebels against the smug, philistine society in which he finds himself. First performed in 1833, Griboyedov’s play was so heavily cut by Russian censors that it was barely recognisable. The play is a virtuoso vehicle for male actors, and the source of many famous quotations. It is also notoriously difficult to translate. In Chatsky, Burgess remakes a classic Russian play in the spirit of Oscar Wilde. It is a great feast of language and invective. The complete texts of both plays are published here for the first time. Two Plays confirms Anthony Burgess’s reputation as a gifted writer for the stage, and as a translator of great wit and sophistication. MISER, MISER! CASTING: 7 men, 3 women CHATSKY CASTING: 9 men, 7 women
£15.29
Double 9 Books Agamemnon
Book Synopsis
£10.44
Double 9 Booksllp The Merry Wives Of Windsor
Book SynopsisShakespeare's merry wives are Mistress Ford and Mistress Page of the town of Windsor. The two pull-down tricks on Mistress Ford's desirous spouse and a meeting knight, Sir John Falstaff. Happy spouses, desirous husbands, and ruthless knights were normal in a sort of play called citizen comedy or city comedy. In such plays, subjects, courteous fellows, or knights utilize social prevalence to tempt residents' wives. The Windsor spouses, however, don't follow that example. All things considered, Falstaff's proposal of himself as darling rouses their torture of him. Falstaff answers with the very etymological office that Shakespeare gives him in the set of experiences plays in which he shows up, making him the legend of the play for some crowds.
£10.44
HarperCollins Publishers Jane Austen's Universal Truths: Wisdom and
Book SynopsisThe enduring appeal of Jane Austen’s fiction is captured in this pocket-sized collection of quotations taken from her celebrated works. The novels of Jane Austen are famed for their ability to perfectly convey the nuances of social interactions in the Regency period. Perhaps what makes the books still so popular is just how recognisable the social situations and character types of two hundred years ago are today. Well-known for her humour, Jane Austen’s Universal Truths is a collection of some of Austen’s most choice and wry observations. Featuring witticisms on love and marriage, the battle of the sexes, town and country and moral duty, and dipping into all of Jane Austen’s six published novels, this collection will delight fans and is the perfect breakdown to introduce a classic author to a new audience. The universal truths are accompanied by illustrations from celebrated artist Polly Fern.
£9.49
Pan Macmillan Othello: The Moor of Venice
Book SynopsisIn its vivid rendering of the savagery lurking within civilization, Othello is arguably the most topical and accessible tragedy from Shakespeare's major phase as a dramatist.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 Ned Halley.Othello is an intense drama of love, deception, jealousy and destruction. Desdemona's love for her husband Othello, the Moor, transcends racial prejudice; but his trusted ensign, the envious Iago, conspires to devastate their lives. The play raises uncomfortable and pertinent questions about both racial identity and sexuality, as Othello and Desdemona's relationship becomes the voyeuristic site of Iago's attempt to destroy them.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
Readerlink Distribution Services, LLC William Shakespeare Comedies
Book SynopsisBring on the merriment and song whenever you open this collection of Shakespeare’s entertaining comedies. The comedies of William Shakespeare—including The Tempest, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and As You Like It—have entertained readers and theatergoers for centuries. This elegant Word Cloud edition of Shakespeare’s Comedies includes all fourteen of the Bard’s comedies in a single volume so readers can revisit their favorite plays and passages with ease.
£10.44
Wordsworth Editions Ltd Henry IV Parts 1 & 2
Book SynopsisEdited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex. In Henry IV, Part 1, the King is in a doubly ironic position. His rebellion against Richard II was successful, but now he himself is beset by rebels, led by the charismatic Harry Hotspur. The King’s son, Prince Hal, seems to be more concerned with the pleasures of the tavern world and the company of the fat rogue, Falstaff, than with concerns of state. Eventually, however, Hal proves a courageous foe of the rebels. This history play is lively in its interplay of political intrigue and boisterous comedy, subtle in the connections between high statecraft and low craftiness, exuberant in its range of vivid characters, and memorable in its thematic concern with honour, loyalty and the quest for power. In Henry IV, Part 2, the King is ailing, Falstaff is ageing, and the kingdom itself, where rebellion is still rife, seems diseased or debilitated. The comedy has a melancholy undertone, and the politics verge on the Machiavellian. Eventually, the resourceful Hal, inheriting the crown as Henry V, must prove that he can uphold justice in the realm. Here Shakespeare demonstrates a mastery of thematic complexity and subtlety, and shows the price in human terms that may be exacted by political success.
£6.23
Cambridge University Press The Winters Tale
Book SynopsisThe Winter's Tale is one of Shakespeare's most varied, theatrically self-conscious, and emotionally wide-ranging plays. This 2007 edition provides a newly-edited text, a comprehensive introduction that takes into account current critical thinking, and a detailed commentary on the play's language designed to make it easily accessible to contemporary readers.
£12.29
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 Anthony and Cleopatra The Oxford Shakespeare
Book SynopsisIn its towering central characters, vast geographical and historical sweep, and its variety of style and mood, Anthony and Cleopatra is perhaps the most ambitious of Shakespeare''s designs. Yet the degree and nature of its success remain surprisingly contentious, and performances of the play have seldom matched the extravagant expectations of its admirers. Michael Neill''s wide-ranging introduction from a number of angles, including those of gender and race. He examines the sources and discusses the theatrical challenge presented by Shakespeare''s technique, with its extraordinary tensions between rhetoric and action. A full stage history further illustrates its theatrical fortunes; both here and in the extensive commentary this edition illuminates the play''s theatrical dimensions as well as the rich complexity of its poetic language. 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 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
£8.54
Oxford University Press Loves Labours Lost The Oxford Shakespeare
Book SynopsisLove''s Labour''s Lost, now recognized as one of the most delightful and stageworthy of Shakespeare''s comedies, came into its own both on the stage and in critical esteem only during the 1930s and 1940s, after three hundred years of neglect by the theatre and undervaluation and misuse by critics. The Introduction to this new edition pays particular attention to this process of rehabilitation. The text, based on the quarto of 1598 and taking full account of the extensive scholarly study that text has received over recent years, rests on the hypothesis that the quarto goes back, probably by way of `lost'' quarto, to an authorial manuscript representing the play in a state prior to `fair copy''. If this is so, the quarto takes on a special significance because through it we can watch Shakespeare in the act of composition, improvising, changing his mind, and revising as his play develops under his hand. The editor offers a number of new readings of difficult and disputed passages, togetheTrade Review`Hibbard lucidly expounds the intricately patterned structure of his play ... and he dispatches the largely distracting question of its 'topicality' with heartening promptness.' English Studies, Volume 72, Number 6, December 1991`This Oxford text of Love's Labour's Lost is lucidly informative, scrupulous but concise,. and in general a model of restrained and level-headed editing.' Cedric Watts, University of Sussex, Review of English Studies, Vol. 43, 8/92'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 TimesTable of ContentsList of illustrations; Introduction; The Play; The Date and `Sources'; The Text; Editorial Procedures; Abbreviations and references; Love's Labour's Lost; Appendix A: Two `False Starts'; Appendix B: Alterations to lineation; Appendix C: The music for `The Hit It'; Appendix D: The name of Armado's page; Index
£7.59
HarperCollins Publishers The Taming of the Shrew Collins Classics
Book SynopsisHarperCollins is proud to present its incredible range of best-loved, essential classics.
£5.62
Penguin Putnam Inc Much Ado About Nothing
Book SynopsisThe repackaging of the acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series continues with more dazzling new covers to excite Shakespearians of all ages
£8.54
Penguin Books Ltd Four Tragedies Hamlet Othello King Lear Macbeth
Book SynopsisThe theme of the great Shakespearean tragedies is the fall from grace of a great man due to a flaw in his nature. 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 his flawed nature, however, the tragic hero has a nobility that emphasizes the greatness of man. 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, making this edition of particular value to students and theatre-goers.
£13.49
Classical Comics Midsummer Night's Dream the Graphic Novel
Book SynopsisThe entire Shakespeare play - unabridged! "The course of true love never did run smooth;" With its mix of real people who stumble into a fairy kingdom (with it's own problems!) it's little wonder that this play is one of the best loved and most performed of all Shakespeare's masterpieces.
£10.79
Oxford University Press Shakespeare Made Easy A Midsummer Nights Dream
Book SynopsisThe Shakespeare Made Easy series aims to take the fear out of Shakespeare. By having Shakespearean and Modern English facing each other, pupils will find it easier to comprehend the text. Through discussion of the life, work and theatre of Shakespeare pupils can gain a more rounded understanding of these classic works.
£17.33
Penguin Putnam Inc Coriolanus
Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series, now repackaged in award-winning modern covers to inspire Shakespearians of all ages.
£8.54
Alma Books Ltd Boris Godunov and Little Tragedies: Newly
Book SynopsisA drama of ambition, murder, remorse and retribution, Boris Godunov charts the decline of a Russian statesman, whose dynastic aims were foiled by a guilty past and an audacious upstart. Based on history and inspired by Shakespeare, Alexander Pushkin’s daring masterwork is presented here in its rarely published uncensored version of 1825. Set in Vienna, Flanders, Madrid and London, Pushkin’s celebrated Little Tragedies – Mozart and Salieri, The Mean-Spirited Knight, The Stone Guest and A Feast during the Plague – each focus on a protagonist’s driving obsession – with status, money, sex or risk-taking – and its devastating consequences.Table of ContentsThis edition features an appendix containing extra historical material, notes on the play's staging and versions of the text, as well as an extract from John Wilson's The City of the Plague.
£10.44
Alma Books Ltd The Government Inspector: New Translation: Newly
Book SynopsisThe mayor and local officials of a small provincial town in Russia have got it made: corruption is rife and they have all the power. Yet, when they learn that an undercover government inspector is about to make a visit, they face a mad dash to cover their tracks. Soon, the news that a suspicious person has recently arrived from St Petersburg and is staying in a local inn produces a series of events and misunderstandings that lead to a hilarious dénouement. Often quoted as Russian literature’s greatest comedy, The Government Inspector is a trenchant satire of the corruption, greed and stupidity of petty officialdom, and the crowning achievement of Gogol’s skills as a playwright.Trade ReviewRoger Cockrell’s freer and livelier versions, of which there are many more examples, mean that any company planning a new production of the play would be well advised to use this fresh, highly actable (and, for good measure, attractively produced) translation of Gogol’s timeless classic. * East-West Review *Roger Cockrell goes straight for the funny bone. His characters speak their truths in intoxicating, colourful English. […] This reader of Roger Cockrell's lively and hilarious Government Inspector cannot wait to see it staged. * TLS *
£7.99
Union Square & Co. Tempest No Fear Shakespeare Deluxe Student
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 Tempest. 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 characters behave
£9.49
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
Union Square & Co. Macbeth
Book SynopsisBased on the?'No Fear Shakespeare'?translations, this dynamic graphic novel ? now with colour added ? is impossible to put down. The illustrations are distinctively offbeat, slightly funky and appealing to teens.
£9.89
Penguin Books Ltd As You Like it
Book Synopsis''All the world''s a stage, And all the men and women merely players''Rosalind, banished by her cruel uncle, travels secretly to the Forest of Arden, where her exiled father holds court. There, dressed as a boy to avoid discovery, she encounters the man she loves - now a fellow exile - and resolves to remain in disguise to test his feelings for her. One of Shakespeare''s most sunny, fast-paced and accessible comedies, As You Like It is an exuberant combination of concealed identities and verbal jousting, burlesque and pastoral dream, reconciliations and multiple weddings.Used and Recommended by the National TheatreGeneral Editor Stanley WellsEdited by H. J. Oliver Introduction by Katherine Duncan-Jones
£7.59
Penguin Books Ltd Cymbeline
Book SynopsisOne of Shakespeare''s late, fantastical plays, Cymbeline considers human love and art through the thrilling wonder of the Renaissance theatre. This Penguin Shakespeare edition is edited with an introduction by John Pitcher.''Fear no more the heat o'' the sun,Nor the furious winter''s rages''The King of Britain, enraged by his daughter''s disobedience in marrying against his wishes, banishes his new son-in-law. Having fled to Rome, the exiled husband makes a foolish wager with a villain he encounters there - gambling on the fidelity of his abandoned wife. Combining courtly menace and horror, comedy and melodrama,Cymbeline is a moving depiction of two young lovers driven apart by deceit and self-doubt.This book contains a general introduction to Shakespeare''s life and Elizabethan theatre, a separate introduction to the play, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, an essay discussing performance options on both stage and screen, and a commentary.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
£8.54
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 Putnam Inc The Comedy of Errors
Book SynopsisThe acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series, now repackaged in award-winning modern covers to inspire Shakespearians of all ages.
£8.54
