Best Selling Books by William Shakespeare

Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare''s great festive comedies. The men are back from the war, and everyone is ready for romance. The dashing young Claudio falls for Hero, the daughter of Leonato, governor of Messina, and his friend Don Pedro helps him secure her affection. These youthful lovers are contrasted with the more experienced Benedick and Beatrice, who have to be tricked into falling in love. Don Pedro''s bastard brother, Don John, provides the intrigue, and the dimwitted constable Dogberry provides the laughs. Life of William Shakespeare is a biography of William Shakespeare by the eminent critic Sidney Lee. This book was one of the first major biographies of the Bard of Avon. It was published in 1898, based on the article contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world''s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England''s national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, the authorship of some of which is uncertain. Sir Sidney Lee (1859 – 1926) was an English biographer and critic. He was a lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Shakespeare. His article on Shakespeare in the fifty-first volume of the Dictionary of National Biography formed the basis of his Life of William Shakespeare. This full-length life is often credited as the first modern biography of the poet.

This edition tells the story of Hamlet in production, from Burbage at the Globe to Branagh on film, relating stage interpretations to developments in the theatre, in literary criticism and in society. The detailed stage history records an ongoing process of discovery, as successive performers have found what it is in the play that will speak most powerfully to the audiences of their own times. The introduction focuses not only on star Hamlets, but on whole productions of the play including supporting players and, in this century, direction and design.

Hamlet (1601) is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. Inspired by Danish historian Saxo Grammatica’s legend of Amleth, which Shakespeare likely encountered in a retelling by French scholar Francois de Belleforest, Hamlet was written sometime between 1599 and 1601. Alongside Romeo and Juliet, it is one of Shakespeare’s most performed plays and has served as source material for countless film and television adaptations. “There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, / Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.” For his wit and wordplay alone, William Shakespeare is often considered the greatest writer to ever work in the English language. Where he truly triumphs, however, is in his ability to portray complex human emotions, how these emotions contribute to relationships, and how these relationships interact with politics, culture, and religion. Hamlet is a story of things seen and unseen. Ghosts, assassins, shadowy plots, a play within a play, lengthy asides—its universe swirls with paranoia and fear, allowing us to enter the mind of its troubled protagonist. When the ghost of his father appears on the castle rampart, Danish prince Hamlet grows increasingly suspicious of his uncle Polonius’ role in the former king’s death. As his relationships with Ophelia, his lover, and Gertrude, his mother, begin to sour, Hamlet loses sight of his duties as a leader. With a beautifully designed cover and professionally typeset manuscript, this edition of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet is a classic of English literature reimagined for modern readers.

The classic one-volume Shakespeare, including all the plays and poems, now completely revised and updated. The distinguished Pelican Shakespeare series has sold five million copies. Now Penguin is proud to offer this fully revised new hardcover edition of The Complete Pelican Shakespeare. Since the series debuted more than forty years ago, developments in scholarship have revolutionized our understanding of William Shakespeare, his time, and his works. With new editors who have incorporated the most up-to-date research and debate, this revised edition of The Complete Pelican Shakespeare will be the premier choice for students, professors, and general readers for decades to come. The general editors of the series-world-renowned Shakespeareans Stephen Orgel of Stanford University and A. R. Braunmuller of UCLA - devoted seven years to preparing introductions and notes with a team of eminent scholars to the forty volumes of Shakespeare''s plays and poems. Now, the new series is complete and available in one lavish and complete edition. * *Authoritative and meticulously researched texts *Illuminating new introductions and notes by distinguished authors *Essays on Shakespeare''s life, the theatrical world of his time, and the selection of texts *A handsome new design inside and out * Deluxe packaging, including a full-linen case, ribbon marker, Smyth-sewn binding, printed endpapers, acid-free paper, and illustrations throughout *Photos and drawings reflecting Shakespeare''s theatrical legacy *Line numbers marking every tenth line and footnote references *Both glossorial and explanatory notes appearing conveniently at the foot of the page

King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare written between 1603 and 1606 and later revised. Shakespeare''s earlier version, The True Chronicle of the History of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters, was published in quarto in 1608. The Tragedy of King Lear, a more theatrical version, was included in the 1623 First Folio. The title character descends into madness after disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman Celtic king. Life of William Shakespeare is a biography of William Shakespeare by the eminent critic Sidney Lee. This book was one of the first major biographies of the Bard of Avon. It was published in 1898, based on the article contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world''s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England''s national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, the authorship of some of which is uncertain. Sir Sidney Lee (1859 – 1926) was an English biographer and critic. He was a lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Shakespeare. His article on Shakespeare in the fifty-first volume of the Dictionary of National Biography formed the basis of his Life of William Shakespeare. This full-length life is often credited as the first modern biography of the poet.

"The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice" is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the Italian short story "Un Capitano Moro". The story, set in 16th-century Venice and Cyprus, tells about a black general in the Italian army, Othello, and what happened between him and his wife, Desdemona. The main villain in this play is Iago; who is a soldier under Othello''s command. Iago tells Othello numerous lies about Desdemona and Othello''s friend, and former right-hand man, Cassio. "Life of William Shakespeare" is a biography of William Shakespeare by the eminent critic Sidney Lee. This book was one of the first major biographies of the Bard of Avon. It was published in 1898, based on the article contributed to the Dictionary of National Biography. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world''s pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England''s national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His extant works, including some collaborations, consist of about 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, the authorship of some of which is uncertain. Sir Sidney Lee (1859 – 1926) was an English biographer and critic. He was a lifelong scholar and enthusiast of Shakespeare. His article on Shakespeare in the fifty-first volume of the Dictionary of National Biography formed the basis of his Life of William Shakespeare. This full-length life is often credited as the first modern biography of the poet.

Shakespeare''s famous tragedy is helpfully annotated and framed within several exciting contexts: contemporary accounts of a spirit world, purgatory, revenge, and suicide, and reports of readers and critics fascinated with the character and dramatic performance of this most famous of Shakespeare''s heroes. Elaborating upon the historical setting and the cultural ideas that helped shape "Hamlet", Constance Jordan summons the issues and anxieties of the early sixteenth century to show why the play, and especially its hero, speaks so powerfully and so vitally to our own time. -- From publisher''s description.

"A Midsummer Night''s Dream" is a romantic comedy play written by William Shakespeare. Set in Athens and a mystical forest, it involves the interwoven romantic escapades of four young lovers, complicated by a group of amateur actors and the mischievous interventions of fairies. The lovers include Hermia, Lysander, Demetrius, and Helena, whose romantic entanglements create much of the humor and confusion. The forest is ruled by Oberon and Titania, the fairy king and queen, who are also experiencing marital discord. Puck, Oberon''s mischievous servant, uses magical potions to create even more romantic chaos. Additionally, a group of amateur actors, led by the bumbling Bottom, is preparing a play for the Duke''s wedding. Through a series of magical manipulations, misunderstandings, and a play-within-a-play, all the romantic entanglements are eventually resolved, leading to a joyous celebration and the blessing of the three couples'' unions. The play explores themes of love, infatuation, the supernatural, and the interplay between illusion and reality, all presented in a humorous and enchanting manner. "A Midsummer Night''s Dream" remains one of Shakespeare''s most beloved and enduring works, celebrated for its memorable characters and witty wordplay.

(Applause Books). If there ever has been a groundbreaking edition that likewise returns the reader to the original Shakespeare text, it will be the Applause Folio Texts. If there has ever been an accessible version of the Folio, it is this edition, set for the first time in modern fonts. The Folio is the source of all other editions. The Folio text forces us to re-examine the assumptions and prejudices which have encumbered over four hundred years of scholarship and performance. Notes refer the reader to subsequent editorial interventions, and offer the reader a multiplicity of interpretations. Notes also advise the reader on variations between Folios and Quartos. The heavy mascara of four centuries of Shakespearean glossing has by now glossed over the original countenance of Shakespeare''s work. Never has there been a Folio available in modern reading fonts. While other complete Folio editions continue to trade simply on the facsimile appearance of the Elizabethan "look," none of them is easily and practically utilized in general Shakespeare studies or performances.

William Shakespeare''s A Midsummer Night''s Dream (1595 or 1596) is a romantic comedy about love, dreams, and the creative imagination. Mostly set in the realm of Fairyland, the play''s main plot concerns two couples, Hermia and Lysander and Helena and Demetrius, who flee into the woods. Hermia has refused to marry the man chosen by her father. In the woods, the King of the fairies recruits the mischievous Puck to change the couples'' feelings for each other through magic.

(Applause Books). These popular editions allow the reader and student to look beyond the scholarly reading text to the more sensuous, more collaborative, more malleable performance text which emerges in conjunction with the commentary and notes. Each note, each gloss, each commentary reflects the stage life of the play with constant reference to the challenge of the text in performance. Readers will not only discover an enlivened Shakespeare, they will be empowered to rehearse and direct their own productions of the imagination in the process. Shakespeare''s shortest play tells the story of Julius Caesar and Marcus Brutus, who, fearing the possibility of a dictator-led empire, betrays Caesar to protect Rome. Little does he know that Cassius has been holding the strings, manipulating Brutus into exploiting Caesar''s weakness and removing him from power with the help of fellow conspirers. Contemplating motives for murder, national allegiance, and divine right, Shakespeare''s Julius Caesar is a unique look at the true events surrounding Caesar''s assassination in 44 B.C.

Describes the volatile courtship between the shrewish Katherine and the canny Petruchio, who is determined to subdue Katherine''s legendary temper and win her dowry.

Shakespeare''s romantic comedy takes on vivid life with these brilliant images by one of the 20th century''s leading illustrators. Includes the complete play, along with 40 full-color and numerous black-and-white illustrations.

This complete study edition of Shakespeare''s play The Tempest includes a time line of Shakespeare''s life, the historical context, plot analysis, questions, writing ideas, and projects.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

"Romeo and Juliet," one of William Shakespeare''s most celebrated tragedies, explores the intense, youthful passion of two star-crossed lovers whose romance is doomed by their feuding families, the Montagues and Capulets. Composed in the late 16th century, this play exemplifies Shakespeare''s mastery of poetic language, characterized by alternating prose and iambic pentameter that enrich the emotional depth and urgency of the characters'' plight. The play''s themes of love, fate, and the consequences of familial conflict are woven into a rich tapestry of vivid imagery and lyrical dialogue, illustrating the tension between personal desire and social obligation. William Shakespeare, often regarded as the greatest playwright of all time, drew upon the societal norms and familial structures of Elizabethan England to create this timeless narrative. Influenced by the cultural dynamics of love and honor during his era, Shakespeare''s own experiences with love and loss undoubtedly informed the poignant depiction of Romeo and Juliet''s tragic fate. The play reflects the complexities of youthful passion and the devastating effects of entrenched animosities. "Romeo and Juliet" remains a compelling and relevant exploration of love''s transformative power and societal constraints. Readers seeking a profound emotional experience that echoes through centuries will find in Shakespeare''s work a timeless narrative, rich in beauty and meaning, making it a must-read for anyone who seeks to understand the depths of human emotion and the consequences of societal divisions.

(Applause Books). If there has ever been a groundbreaking edition that likewise returns the reader to the original Shakespeare text, it will be THE APPLAUSE FOLIO TEXTS. If there has ever been an accessible version of the Folio, it is this edition, set for the first time in modern fonts. The Folio is the source of all other editions. The Folio text forces us to re-examine the assumptions and prejudices which have encumbered over four hundred years of scholarship and performance. Notes refer the reader to subsequent editorial interventions, and offer the reader a multiplicity of interpretations. Notes also advise the reader on variations between Folios and Quartos. Prepared and annotated by Neil Freeman, Head, Graduate Directing Program, University of British Columbia.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare''s most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. Its plot is based on an Italian tale, translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but, to expand the plot, developed supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597. This text was of poor quality, and later editions corrected it, bringing it more in line with Shakespeare''s original. Shakespeare''s use of his poetic dramatic structure, especially effects such as switching between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his expansion of minor characters, and his use of sub-plots to embellish the story, has been praised as an early sign of his dramatic skill. The play ascribes different poetic forms to different characters, sometimes changing the form as the character develops. Romeo, for example, grows more adept at the sonnet over the course of the play.

The acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series, now in a dazzling new series design Winner of the 2016 AIGA + Design Observer 50 Books | 50 Covers competition This edition of Twelfth Night is edited with an introduction by Jonathan Crewe and was recently repackaged with cover art by Manuja Waldia. Waldia received a Gold Medal from the Society of Illustrators for the Pelican Shakespeare series. The legendary Pelican Shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned Shakespeareans. Each book includes an essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare’s time, an introduction to the individual play, and a detailed note on the text used. Updated by general editors Stephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmuller, these easy-to-read editions incorporate over thirty years of Shakespeare scholarship undertaken since the original series, edited by Alfred Harbage, appeared between 1956 and 1967. With stunning new covers, definitive texts, and illuminating essays, the Pelican Shakespeare will remain a valued resource for students, teachers, and theater professionals for many years to come. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

William Shakespeare[a] (bapt. 26 April 1564 - 23 April 1616)[b] was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world''s greatest dramatist.He is often called England''s national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard").[c] His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, [d] 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright

This unique collection of Shakespeare''s greatest poetical works includes: The Sonnets Venus And Adonis The Rape Of Lucrece The Passionate Pilgrim The Phoenix And The Turtle A Lover''s Complaint Shakespeare''s sonnets are a collection of 154 sonnets, dealing with themes such as the passage of time, love, beauty and mortality, first published in a 1609 quarto entitled Shakespeares Sonnets. Venus and Adonis is a poem written in 1592–1593 and published in 1609. It recounts Venus'' attempts to woo Adonis, their passionate coupling, and Adonis'' rejection of the goddess, to which she responds with jealousy, with tragic results. The Rape of Lucrece, published in 1594, is a narrative poem focusing on the rape and tragic death of the title character and on the revenge that follows. The Passionate Pilgrim, published in 1599, is an anthology of 20 poems collected and published by William Jaggard that were attributed to "W. Shakespeare" on the title page, only five of which are considered authentically Shakespearean. These are two sonnets, later to be published in the 1609 collection of Shakespeare''s sonnets, and three poems extracted from the play Love''s Labour''s Lost. The Phoenix and the Turtle, first published in 1601, is an allegorical poem about the death of ideal love, widely considered to be one of his most obscure works and has led to many conflicting interpretations. The poem describes a funeral arranged for the deceased Phoenix and Turtledove, the latter a traditional emblem of devoted love. A Lover''s Complaint is a narrative poem published as an appendix to the original edition of Shakespeare''s sonnets. It is given the title "A Lover''s Complaint" in the book, which was published in 1609. William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world''s pre-eminent dramatist.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare''s most popular plays during his lifetime and along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. The plot is based on an Italian tale translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but expanded the plot by developing a number of supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597. The text of the first quarto version was of poor quality, however, and later editions corrected the text to conform more closely with Shakespeare''s original. Shakespeare''s use of his poetic dramatic structure (especially effects such as switching between comedy and tragedy to heighten tension, his expansion of minor characters, and his use of sub-plots to embellish the story) has been praised as an early sign of his dramatic skill. The play ascribes different poetic forms to different characters, sometimes changing the form as the character develops. Romeo, for example, grows more adept at the sonnet over the course of the play. Romeo and Juliet has been adapted numerous times for stage, film, musical, and opera venues. During the English Restoration, it was revived and heavily revised by William Davenant. David Garrick''s 18th-century version also modified several scenes, removing material then considered indecent, and Georg Benda''s Romeo und Julie omitted much of the action and added a happy ending. Performances in the 19th century, including Charlotte Cushman''s, restored the original text and focused on greater realism. John Gielgud''s 1935 version kept very close to Shakespeare''s text and used Elizabethan costumes and staging to enhance the drama. In the 20th and into the 21st century, the play has been adapted in versions as diverse as George Cukor''s 1936 film Romeo and Juliet, Franco Zeffirelli''s 1968 version Romeo and Juliet, and Baz Luhrmann''s 1996 MTV-inspired Romeo + Juliet.

Twelfth Night has seldom been off the stage since Shakespeare’s day. It has been performed for its romantic high comedy and its boisterous low comedy; with an emphasis on farce or on autumnal melancholy; as straightforward celebration of heterosexual love and marriage or as exploration of the complexity of gender. David Carnegie and Mark Houlahan’s introduction to the play provides a lively discussion of the play’s performance history and encourages readers to think about stagecraft and the play as a performance text, while the historical appendices provide materials that illuminate different thematic elements of the play. Extended notes interleaved throughout the play present relevant illustrations and expand on mythological, historical, and religious references in the play. The accompanying online text will offer additional commentary on staging alternatives and more extensive visual materials. A collaboration between Broadview Press and the Internet Shakespeare Editions project at the University of Victoria, the editions developed for this series have been comprehensively annotated and draw on the authoritative texts newly edited for the ISE. This innovative series allows readers to access extensive and reliable online resources linked to the print edition.