William Shakespeare Books

The plays are presented as in the First Folio of 1623, with the addition of "Pericles" and variations which are agreed by the best Shakespearean critics. For the most part it is Delius's text that is followed.

This selection of his poetry-sonnets, and songs and verse from plays, some justly familiar, others less known-offers the quintessence of his remarkable art and provides an enticing introduction to his work.

A beautiful, intricate colouring book, full of romantic, inspirational and dramatic quotes from the favourite plays and poems of William Shakespeare. An ideal choice for older children and adults, in a beautiful square format, it is gloriously intricate illustrations provide a soothing occupation for the millions of fans of adult colouring books.

Contains the complete text of such Shakespeare tragedies as Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and Macbeth.

“Well, God give them wisdom that have it; and those that are fools, let them use their talents.” from Twelfth Night. There is not much left for us to say about William Shakespeare, probably the most important and famous playwright in World literature let alone English literature. Though nearly everyone is familiar with his name or at least some of his plays along with some of his sonnets, we do not have much information about him and his life. We have chosen some of Shakespeare’s comedies for this book you are holding in your hands namely; A Midsummer Night’s Dream, As You Like It, Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will, Much Ado About Nothing and The Merchant of Venice. His works may be very old in age; however, they still have great power to influence the very times we are living in.

The text is taken from the Shakespeare Head Press, The Stratford Town Shakespeare edited by Arthur Henry Bullen, and this new edition contains John Aubrey's Brief Life of Shakespeare, a bibliography, biography of Sir John Gilbert, an account of The Shakespeare Head Press edition and listing of Shakespeare's major characters.

With over 3,000 quotes organized by topic and by play the Dictionary is very easy to use. It also includes a glossary of unfamiliar terms and a brief biography of Shakespeare. The key word index makes it easy to dip into by word, theme or play allowing you to track down a half-remembered quote easily.

Edited by Howard Staunton with over 800 illustrations by Sir John Gilbert, R.A. All 37 plays. All 160 sonnets and poems. Thousands of comments and notes.

In this volume, Tony Tanner introduces Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies - Hamlet, Othello, Macbeth and King Lear.

Уильям Шекспир (1561—1616) — английский поэт, драматург и актер, по праву считающийся величайшим писателем эпохи Возрождения. Его исторические хроники, потрясающие своей достоверностью, античные драмы, величайшие трагедии и восхитительные комедии не знают себе равных и по сей день не сходят с мировых сцен. В настоящее издание вошли 5 знаменитых трагедий У. Шекспира — «Ромео и Джульетта», «Гамлет, принц Датский», «Отелло, венецианский мавр», «Король Лир» и «Макбет».

Now available in three handy paperback volumes are all Shakespeare's Histories, Tragedies, and Comedies, complete with brief introductions, contemporary allusions to Shakespeare, and commendatory poems and prefaces about Shakespeare by his peers. The texts, established by the Complete OxfordShakespeare , which was re-edited afresh from the original editions, offer what the Times Higher Education Supplement hails as "the most ambitious edition of the works ever attempted."This convenient volume offers all Shakespeare's Histories, as well as a complete collection of his poems and sonnets. Included All is True (Henry VIII) ; 1 Henry IV ; 2 Henry IV ; 1 Henry VI ; 2 Henry VI ; 3 Henry VI ; The History of Henry the Fourth (1 Henry IV) ; The Life and Death of KingJohn ; The Life of Henry the Fifth ; The Life of Timon of Athens ; "A Lover's Complaint";Poems, Various; The Rape of Lucrece ; Richard II ; Richard III ; The Second Part of Henry Fourth ; Sir Thomas Passages Attributed to Shakespeare; Sonnets and "A Lover's Complaint"; Various Poems; and Venus andAdonis .

Presents Shakespeare's complete works accompanied by timelines, genealogies, and selected archival documents

'It is required you do awake your faith' (The Winter's Tale). Written late in Shakespeare's life, these plays delightfully exhibit his interest in the conventions of the fairy-tale. They are tales of enchantment, heard from afar and seen through a fine gauze. In this fantasy world truths about the real world are played out on a different plane. In each play a family is forcibly divided through natural mischance (a storm at sea) or human folly (a wrongful accusation), and in each the lost ones are restored to their families. We move from the pain of separation through the despair of loss to the joy of restoration and resurrection. This mature vision of the world looks unblinkingly into the jaws of despair, yet still chooses to consider life worth celebrating.

This complete collection of Shakespeare's plays and poems includes two works recently attributed to Shakespeare.

Among the most studied, most read, and most admired works in world literature, the tragedies of Shakespeare constitute a body of work unrivaled in dramatic brilliance, beauty of language, and profundity of thought. This convenient and affordable volume—ideal for students and all lovers of literature—features four of the playwright’s greatest works: Hamlet, the revenge drama centering on the introspective Prince of Denmark—one of literature's most discussed and contentious characters, and the role that every actor longs to play; Macbeth, otherwise known as "The Scottish Play," concerning a nobleman's overweening ambition; Othello, in which a gallant soldier and loving husband is undone by jealousy; and Romeo and Juliet, the timeless tale of the young lovers whose names are synonymous with star-crossed romance.

Definitive, comprehensive, and handsome edition presents every one of Shakespeare's great plays-the Comedies, Tragedies and Histories-plus his poems and, of course, the Sonnets. All in one beautifully illustrated volume. B&W illustrations throughout. 1248 pages.

Ромео и Джульетта — одна из самых известных и часто ставимых пьес Шекспира, символизирующая неугасимую любовь. Этот классический сюжет рассказывает о трагической истории молодых влюбленных из итальянской Вероны в XIII веке. Вражда между родами Монтекки и Капулетти известна всем в Вероне. Тем не менее, Ромео Монтекки и Джульетта Капулетти испытывают сильное чувство любви друг к другу. Столкновения между членами обеих враждующих семей приводят к вынужденному изгнанию Ромео, а череда несчастных случаев и недоразумений ведет к неизбежному трагическому концу их любви.

The 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. LOVES LABOUR'S LOST, ROMEO AND JULIET (sic) and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM

The penultimate volume in the 8-volume Everyman Signet Shakespeare contains Shakespeare's later Comedies - THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, AS YOU LIKE IT, TWELFTH NIGHT, ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL and MEASURE FOR MEASURE.

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.

The Comedies with Introductions by Judith Buchanan These Comedies are among the best loved of Shakespeare's plays. In each a problem emerges, is then intensified to a point of maximum confusion and potential upset, before the chaos is resolved, however improbably, into general goodwill and a spate of marriages. The triumph of these plays lies in the way they mingle humorous stage business and dexterous word play with a more serious study of identity, gender, dreaming, the meaning of love, even of the theatre itself. They reassure us that with all its faults, the world will always in the end be redeemable. The Tragedies with Introductions by Emma Smith 'Not for an age but for all time.' So Ben Jonson established what we now take for granted: Shakespeare's unique place among the world's great authors. Romeo and Juliet shows us the archetypal story of fated young love; Hamlet, the tortured psyche of the young prince of Denmark; Othello, a strikingly modern representation of racial difference; King Lear, a man stripped of all material and psychological comforts; and Macbeth, a dark investigation of the origins and effects of, evil. The plays throw a fascinating light on the concerns of Shakespeare's day, yet offer perennial insights into the nature of human emotion.

More than thirty of William Shakespeare's best-known and most-loved verses and poems, wonderfully illustrated for children ages 8 to 12.

Shakespeares rätselhafte, kraftvolle Sonette sind als lyrisches Vermächtnis den berühmten Dramen des Dichters ebenbürtig. Sie sprechen von Liebe und Tod, Schönheit und Vergänglichkeit. Ihre unvergleichliche Sprachmelodie und die betörenden Bilder machen Shakespeares Sonette zu Meisterwerken der Weltliteratur. Die Sonette 1-126 wenden sich an einen mysteriösen jungen Mann, dessen Identität niemals geklärt werden konnte, die Sonette 127-152 an eine «dark lady», die zwar nicht schön ist, deren erotischer Anziehungskraft sich der Dichter jedoch nicht entziehen kann. Inständig beschwören die Sonette die Freundschaft, die allein der Vergänglichkeit alles Irdischen Beständigkeit entgegenzusetzen vermag. Diese Ausgabe enthält die 154 Sonette der Ausgabe von 1609 im englischen Original und in der einfühlsamen, lyrischen deutschen Übersetzung von Hanno Helbling.

The core of the ground-breaking, three text edition, this self-contained, free-standing volume gives readers the Second Quarto text (1604-5) and includes in its Introduction, notes and Appendices all the reader might expect to find in any standard Arden edition. As well as a full, illustrated Introduction to the play?s historical, cultural and performance contexts and a thorough survey of critical approaches to the play, an appendix contains the additional passages found only in the 1623 text. The core of the ground-breaking, three text edition, this self-contained, free-standing volume gives readers the Second Quarto text (1604-5) and includes in its Introduction, notes and Appendices all the reader might expect to find in any standard Arden edition. As well as a full, illustrated Introduction to the play?s historical, cultural and performance contexts and a thorough survey of critical approaches to the play, an appendix contains the additional passages found only in the 1623 text.

This is the only fully annotated and modernized edition to bring together Shakespeare's sonnets as well as all his poems (including those attributed to him after his death) in one volume. A full introduction discusses his development as a poet, and how the poems relate to the plays, and detailed notes explain the language and allusions. While accessibly written, the edition takes account of the most recent scholarship and criticism.

"This is a wonderful collection of six retellings of William Shakespeare's best-loved plays - a perfect mix of comedy, tragedy, magic and romance, retold for younger readers. It is full of colourful illustrations from the Usborne Young Reading Programme. It contains the plays "A Midummer Night's Dream", "Hamlet", "Macbeth", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Tempest", and "Twelfth Night". It also includes a section at the back on the life and times of Shakespeare." --Publisher description.

Amid a backdrop of war, conspiracy, and murder, this historical play depicts the unpopular 13th-century monarch's struggles with the English nobility as well as foreign rivals for his throne.

SparkNotes offers essential study guides created by Harvard students, designed to help you succeed academically. Each guide includes a complete plot summary and analysis, key facts, character analyses, and discussions of major themes, motifs, and symbols such as incest, the diseased nation, misogyny, death, uncertainty, and action. Important quotations are explained, and the author's historical context is provided, along with suggested essay topics and a 25-question review quiz. Join millions of students at SparkNotes.com, where you can access over 1000 study guides covering various subjects, including history, poetry, philosophy, mathematics, physics, and chemistry. The platform allows you to post questions, seek help from peers, and explore the latest additions to the collection. In celebration of their 5th anniversary, Spark Publishing’s Literature Guides are being revamped, featuring new elements such as a 16-page section on writing literary essays. This includes a glossary of literary terms, step-by-step tutoring on essay writing, and tips on avoiding plagiarism. Additionally, each guide will feature an A+ essay, demonstrating how to effectively write a literary analysis.

Comedy and tragedy fuse together in perfect harmoney in this classic play. Now if only you can understand it... If you have struggled in the past reading Shakespeare, then BookCaps can help you out. This book is a modern translation of Troilus and Cressidae. The original text is also presented in the book, along with a comparable version of both text. We all need refreshers every now and then. Whether you are a student trying to cram for that big final, or someone just trying to understand a book more, BookCaps can help. We are a small, but growing company, and are adding titles every month.

The greatest sonnets ever written, by the greatest poet and playwright in the English language--now in a handsome edition featuring exquisite color illustrations.

This volume features a rich selection of Shakespeare's works, including his renowned sonnets and a mix of comedies and tragedies. Readers will explore the complexities of love and fate in "The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra," enjoy the whimsical charm of "As You Like It," and experience the themes of identity and misunderstanding in "The Comedy of Errors." Additionally, "All's Well That Ends Well" and "The Tragedy of Coriolanus" offer nuanced insights into human nature and societal conflicts.

A justly famous aid to the study of Shakespeare, this glossary--originally compiled by C.T. Onions, an editor of the Oxford English Dictionary --clarifies those words in Shakespeare whose senses or connotations may be unfamiliar to the modern reader, paying special attention to dialect forms, idioms, and colloquial phrases. Original in its explanations and illuminating in its definitions, the Glossary brings out the richness and subtley found in Elizabethan English. Incorporating the many advances made in the field since the last (revised) edition was published in 1919, this volume reveals new facts about the meanings of words in Shakespeare, alters previous interpretations, and resolves earlier controversies. In addition, the book takes advantage of two highly accurate, computer based concordances that make every occurrence of each word immediately accessible for investigation and comparison. A reference work without peer, the Glossary is an essential source for students,scholars, playgoers and readers of Shakespeare, and those interested in the history of the English language.

"This translation takes a deep dive into the language of Shakespeare and updates passages that are archaic and difficult to the modern ear and matches them with the syntax and lyricism of the rest of the play, essentially translating archaic Shakespeare into a contemporary voice"--

Classic / British EnglishHamlet is the Prince of Denmark. His heart is filled with sadness and pain. Why? Only his two best friends, Horatio and Marcellus, know the true reason. The new king, Claudius, murdered Hamlet’s father and married the young prince’s mother. Will Hamlet be strong and brave enough to take revenge? Is he mad? Or does he have a secret plan?

Twelve of Shakespeare's most profound and moving dramas in one elegant volume. William Shakespeare's tragedies introduced the world to some of the most well- known characters in literature, including Romeo, Juliet, Macbeth, Hamlet, King Lear, and Othello. This handsome Word Cloud volume includes all twelve works from the First Folio that are commonly classified as tragedies--but the feelings that Shakespeare's words can evoke range across the spectrum of human emotion.

Fifty monologues for women drawn from across the Shakespeare canon. Ideal for actors of all ages and experience. Also includes uniquely formatted summarizations to each piece.

Instructors and students worldwide welcomed the fresh scholarship, lively and accessible introductions, helpful marginal glosses and notes, readable single-column format, all designed in support of the goal of the Oxford text: to bring the modern reader closer than before possible to Shakespeare's plays as they were first acted. Now, under Stephen Greenblatt's direction, the editors have considered afresh each introduction and all of the apparatus to make the Second Edition an even better teaching tool.

This impressive collection of engravings illustrating the dramatic works of Shakespeare takes a new look at the long-neglected area of romantic early-19th-century art. A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Merry Wives of Windsor, The Tempest, Two Gentlemen of Verona, Measure for Measure, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, and 23 other plays.

A unique collection of Shakespeare's every reflection on the theatre, offering insights into the man, his work, and the world of the Jacobean stage--Publisher.

From the Royal Shakespeare Company - a modern, definitive edition of Shakespeare's tragi-comedy of youth and age, introducing the immortal Sir John Falstaff.

This popular and enduring comedy of society and romance, sees two couples fall in love despite the scheming of the embittered Don John and the comic incompetence of Dogberry.

A companion volume to the highly acclaimed Shakespeare Stories. It presents nine of Shakespeare's memorable dramas.

Presents seven complete plays along with selections from Shakespeare's sonnets, songs, and other plays.

William Shakespeare "the poet" is usually represented in book form by the Sonnets, together with perhaps a few songs from the plays. And yet few would deny that they plays are essentially "poetic". How often have we search the Complete Works for well-known yet half-remembered lines, or quoted speeches as if they wee individual poems, not quite recalling which play they are from or who spoke them in what situation? This selection offers several of the classic speeches. It also includes a selection from the Sonnets. Where a play excerpt has been used, the context is indicated.

Classic / British English These are the stories of some of Shakespeare's most famous plays. We travel to Venice, Greece, Denmark and Rome, and meet many different people. There is a greedy money-lender, a fairy king and queen, some Roman politicians and a young prince who meets the ghost of his murdered father.

This box set contains the complete works of Shakespeare. Volume one comprises of his comedies, volume 2 his histories and volume three his tragedies. His sonnets and longer poems are also included.

This is a book in which poetry expressing the tenderest affection is happily conjunct with likenesses, most dextrously limned, of the fairest and foremost cats at Her Majesty's court. All are clothed in the latest Florentine fashion, calles 'Renaissance', the lady cats in dainty ruffs and bodices of gleaming silk, wondrously embroidered, all adorned with lace of the finest filigree and costly jewels; the gentlemen exquisite in velvet. Yet here is no vulgar display; for these are highborn felines, gracious and courtly, the very flower of English cathood, whose bearing alone betokens their nobility; each clear gaze carrying the 'speechless message' that Her Majesty's court is the finest in christendom, surpassing even that of Spain.

Three comedies are accompanied by a critical analyses of the plays

A fresh look at a play usually regarded as the first component of a three-part historical epic, this edition argues that King Henry VI Part 1 is a prequel, a free-standing piece that returns for ironic and dramatic effect to a story already familiar to its audience. The play's ingenious use of stage space is closely analysed, as is its manipulation of a series of setpiece combats to give a coherent syntax of action. Discussion of the dramatic structure created by the opposing figures of Talbot and Jeanne la Pucelle, and exploration of the critical controversies surrounding the figure of Jeanne, lead to a reflection on the nature of the history play as genre in the 1590s.

CLASSIC TAILS - the greatest works of literature, as told by the finest breeds

Shakespeare is the greatest writer on love - of all time. He is wise and witty, he has ridiculous sense of fun, yet he captures such depth of feeling. His words are timeless. Whether you are head over heels in love or your heart is breaking, he captures the feeling. Bound in antiqued gold, with fine paintings, this collection makes a very special gift.

Dark and violent, Macbeth is also the most theatrically spectacular of Shakespeare's tragedies. Indeed, for 250 years - until early this century - it was performed with grand operatic additions set to baroque music. In his introduction Nicholas Brooke relates the play's changing fortunes to changes within society and the theatre and investigates the sources of its enduring appeal. He examines its many layers of illusion and interprets its linguistic turns and echoes, arguing that the earliest surviving text is an adaptation, perhaps carried out by Shakespeare himself in collaboration with Thoma

Hamlet is arguably one of the greatest plays ever written; it has been staged countless times, adapted into movies, and inspired thousands of artist--but let's face it..if you don't understand it, then you are not alone. If you have struggled in the past reading Shakespeare, then we can help you out. Our books and apps have been used and trusted by millions of students worldwide. Plain and Simple English books, let you see both the original and the modern text (modern text is underneath in italics)--so you can enjoy Shakespeare, but have help if you get stuck on a passage.

A Midsummer Night's Dream; Much Ado About Nothing; As You Like It; Twelfth Night.

Sonety je básnická sbírka 154 sonetů, kterou napsal William Shakespeare. Jejich tématy jsou láska, krása, politika a pomíjivost života a citů. Souběžný anglický text. 22-098-76

William Shakespeare's musings on love and beauty have excited the imaginations of lovers throughout the ages. Here are sixty of the most cherished love poems from our greatest bard.

Small gift books that offer quotations for all kinds of preferences, from the humorous and naughty to the wise and well-known.

Complex human emotions and intricate relationships drive the narrative of this tragedy, where the Danish prince Hamlet grapples with the appearance of his father's ghost and the suspicion surrounding his uncle Polonius. As paranoia and fear envelop the castle, Hamlet's connections with Ophelia and Gertrude deteriorate, leading him to neglect his responsibilities as a leader. Rich with themes of politics, culture, and the supernatural, this classic tale remains a cornerstone of English literature, reimagined for contemporary audiences.

Background - Synopsis - Scene by scene analysis - Characters - Commentary.

These volumes represent each author's best and most famous writings. This finely crafted and affordable series offers the works of these world-renowned authors to a wider audience. Includes "Hamlet," "Macbeth," and "Romeo and Juliet,"

'York Notes Advanced' offer an accessible approach to English Literature. This series has been completely updated to meet the needs of today's A-level and undergraduate students. Written by established literature experts, 'York Notes Advanced' introduce students to sophisticated analysis, a range of critical perspectives and wider contexts.

Shakespeare turned a tale of unrequited love, family dispute and fatal shipwreck into a miraculously evergreen Christmas favourite. At the beginning of the story, everyone is alone; by the end, everyone - well, almost everyone - has found their other half.

A brilliant and fun introduction to Shakespeare, ideal both for Year 6 and Key Stage 3 pupils who are studying a Shakespeare play.

Word count 5,687 Read at a comfortable level with word count and CEFR level on every cover Illustrations, photos, and diagrams support comprehension Activities build language skills and check understanding Glossaries teach difficult vocabulary Free editable tests for every book

Its lyricism, comedy (both broad and subtle) and magical transformations have long made A Midsummer Night's Dream one of the most popular of Shakespeare's works. The supernatural and the mundane, the illusory and the substantial, are all shimmeringly blended. Love is treated as tragic, poignant, absurd and farcical. 'Lord, what fools these mortals be!', jeers Robin Goodfellow; but the joke may be on him and on his master Oberon when Bottom the weaver, his head transformed into that of an ass, is embraced by the voluptuously amorous Titania. Recent stage-productions of A Midsummer Night's Dream have emphasised the enchanting, spectacular, ambiguous and erotically joyous aspects of this magical drama which culminates in a multiple celebration of marriage.

This richly annotated edition takes a fresh look at the first part of Shakespeare's second tetralogy of history plays, showing how it relates to the other plays in the sequence. Forker places the play in its political context, discussing its relation to competing theories of monarchy, looking at how it faced censorship because of possible comparisons between Richard II and Elizabeth I, and how Bolingbroke's rebellion could be compared to the Essex rising of the time. This edition also reconsiders Shakespeare's use of sources, asking why he chose to emphasise one approach over another. Forker also looks at the play's rich afterlife, and the many interpretations that actors and directors have taken. Finally, the edition looks closely at the aesthetic relationship between language, character, structure and political import.

York Notes Advanced offer a fresh and accessible approach to English Literature.  This market-leading series has been completely updated to meet the needs of today's A-level and undergraduate students.  Written by established literature experts, York Notes Advanced intorduce students to more sophisticated analysis, a range of critical perspectives and wider contexts.

This volume, which brings together three great tragedies by Shakespeare, tells the story of Prince Hamlet, who encounters the ghost of his father; King Lear, who decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters; and Macbeth, the valiant subject who is led astray by ambition.

When it seems that Julius Caesar may assume supreme power, a plot to destroy him is hatched by those determined to preserve the threatened republic. But the different motives of the conspirators soon become apparent when high principles clash with malice and political realism.

Shakespeare's life - Elizabethan theatre - Structure of the play - Imagery - Verse and style - Characters - Meaning.

This updated edition includes: *Newly re-edited play text and revised commentary notes *Scene-by-scene plot summaries *A key to the play's famous lines and phrases *An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language *An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play *Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books *An up-to-date annotated guide to further reading

Othello SparkNotes Literature Guide Making the reading experience fun! When a paper is due, and dreaded exams loom, here's the lit-crit help students need to succeed! SparkNotes Literature Guides make studying smarter, better, and faster. They provide chapter-by-chapter analysis; explanations of key themes, motifs, and symbols; a review quiz; and essay topics. Lively and accessible, SparkNotes is perfect for late-night studying and paper writing. Includes: *An A+ Essay—an actual literary essay written about the Spark-ed book—to show students how a paper should be written. *16 pages devoted to writing a literary essay including: a glossary of literary terms *Step-by-step tutoring on how to write a literary essay *A feature on how not to plagiarize

Building on the formula of York Notes, this Advanced series introduces students to more sophisticated analysis and wider critical perspectives. The notes enable students to appreciate contrasting interpretations of the text and to develop their own critical thinking. Key features include: study methods; an introduction to the text; summaries with critical notes; themes and techniques; textual analysis of key passages; author biography; historical and literary background; modern and historical critical approaches; chronology; and glossary of literary terms.

12 Shakespearian plays presented afresh in narrative form.

‘Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind.’ Theseus of Athens is looking forward to his wedding to Hippolyta, Queen of the Amazons. But two other young couples are not so happy: Hermia wants to marry Lysander, but her father doesn’t agree. Helena loves Demetrius, but he wants to marry Hermia. The King and Queen of the Fairies don’t love each other any more, so they start to play tricks on each other. They involve their fairies, the lovers and a group of Athenian workmen who want to be actors. It’s a very unusual Midsummer Night, perhaps it’s a dream. Láska sa nepozerá očami, ale mysľou. Theseus z Atén sa teší na svadbu s amazonskou kráľovnou Hippolytou. Ďalšie dva páry však nie sú také šťastné: Hermia sa chce vydať za Lysandera, jej otec však nesúhlasí. Helena miluje Demetriusa, avšak ten si chce vziať Hermiu. Kráľ s kráľovnou víl sa už viac nemilujú, a tak si začínajú robiť napriek. Do svojho sporu zapájajú tiež víly, milencov a skupinu aténskych robotníkov, ktorí sa chcú stať hercami. Ide o veľmi nezvyčajnú svätojánsku noc, možno je to sen.