As You Like It
- 312 pages
- 11 hours of reading
As You Like It is one of Shakespeare's finest romantic comedies, variously lyrical, melancholy, satiric, comic and absurd.
Sidney Lee Book order (chronological)
Sir Sidney Lee was a significant English biographer and critic whose work primarily illuminated Elizabethan authors and statesmen. He became a pivotal figure through his extensive contributions to the Dictionary of National Biography and, most notably, his in-depth life of William Shakespeare. Lee's critical analysis and editorial endeavors, including his work on Shakespeare's First Folio, established foundational scholarship for subsequent literary study.
Twelfth Night
- 288 pages
- 11 hours of reading
A comedic romance of mistaken identity, 'Twelfth Night' begins with a shipwreck, splitting up Viola and her twin brother, Sebastian. Alone in a strange land, Viola disguises herself as a male servant, Cesario, in order to work for the Duke Orsino. Orsino is in love with Lady Olivia, but it is Cesario that Olivia falls for.
Cranford is Elizabeth Gaskell's gently comic picture of life and manners in an English country village during the 1830s. It describes the small adventures in the lives of two middle-aged sisters in reduced circumstances, Matilda and Deborah Jenkyns, who do their best to maintain their standards of propriety, decency, and kindness. At the center of the novel is Miss Matty, whose warm heart and tender ways compel affection and regard from everyone around her. Also revealed are the foibles and attributes of the pompous Mrs. Jamieson and her awesome butler, the genial Captain Brown, the loyal housemaid Martha, and others. Using an intimate, gossipy voice that never turns sentimental, Gaskell skillfully conveys the old-fashioned habits, subtle class distinctions, and genteel poverty of the townspeople. Cranford is one of the author's best-loved works.
A life of William Shakespeare
- 178 pages
- 7 hours of reading
The biography offers an in-depth exploration of William Shakespeare's life, including his upbringing, education, and family dynamics. Sidney Lee, a respected literary critic, utilizes extensive research from historical documents and literary sources to provide a detailed account of Shakespeare's career and the lasting impact of his work. This comprehensive study, published in 1898, captures the essence of the Bard of Avon, making it a significant contribution to Shakespearean scholarship.
William Shakespeare
Sein Leben und seine Werke