"Written with wit and panache, this erudite tome dismantles the arguments claiming that someone other than Shakespeare wrote his plays."—Publishers Weekly "The definitive study of the controversy."—The Shakespeare Newsletter "Of interest to anyone fascinated by this ma... read more
Our Editors also recommend:
Twelve Plays by Shakespeare by William Shakespeare Hamlet, Richard III, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, The Taming of the Shrew, The Tempest, Othello, King Lear, Julius Caesar, and Much Ado About Nothing.
Shakespeare's Great Soliloquies by William Shakespeare, Bob Blaisdell This superlative collection offers timeless speeches from A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, Much Ado About Nothing, Macbeth, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet, Richard III, and more.
All's Well That Ends Well by William Shakespeare The daughter of a renowned physician pursues her passion for an elusive bridegroom through a comic maze of mistaken identities, betrayals, repentance, and dramatic revelation. An extraordinary combination of romantic melodrama and outright farce.
As You Like It by William Shakespeare When forbidden romance enters their lives, two noblewomen assume disguises and flee to the Forest of Arden, where they encounter friendly outlaws and wise fools. This comedy features memorable characters and incomparable poetry.
The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare Two sets of identical twins provide the basis for ongoing incidents of mistaken identity, within a lively plot of quarrels, arrests, and a grand courtroom denouement. One of Shakespeare's earliest comedic efforts.
Complete Sonnets by William Shakespeare Over 150 exquisite poems deal with love, friendship, the tyranny of time, beauty's evanescence, death, and other themes in language of remarkable power, precision, and beauty. Glossary of archaic terms. Includes a selection from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Coriolanus by William Shakespeare A military hero of ancient Rome attempts to shift from his career as a general to become a politician — a disastrous move that results in his leading an attack on Rome.
Four Great Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Four of the playwright's greatest works: Hamlet; Macbeth; Othello; and Romeo and Juliet, the tale of the lovers whose names are synonymous with star-crossed romance. Includes 2 selections from the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare, John Austen In this hardcover reproduction of a rare 1922 edition, the drama of the melancholy Dane unfolds amid haunting black-and-white images in a style heavily influenced by the great Aubrey Beardsley. Tailpieces and other ornamental designs appear throughout the text.
Hamlet by William Shakespeare The quintessential Shakespearean tragedy, whose highly charged confrontations and anguished soliloquies probe depths of human feeling rarely sounded in any art. Reprinted from an authoritative British edition complete with illuminating footnotes. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Henry IV, Part I by William Shakespeare Grand drama of nobles' rebellion against King Henry, complicated by the ruler's problems with the wayward Prince Hal. Superb blend of courtly intrigue, battlefield action, and comic interludes featuring Sir John Falstaff.
Henry V by William Shakespeare Popular, much-studied drama focuses on the young warrior king — from his decision to press England's claim to the French throne, to his role in one of the greatest military triumphs in English history.
Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare Great tragedy based on Plutarch's account of the lives of Brutus, Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. Evil plotting, ringing oratory, high tragedy with Shakespeare's incomparable insight, dramatic power. Explanatory footnotes.
King Lear by William Shakespeare Powerful tragedy of an aging king, betrayed by his daughters, robbed of his kingdom, descending into madness. Perhaps the bleakest of Shakespeare's tragic dramas, complete with explanatory footnotes.
Love's Labour's Lost by William Shakespeare A well-intentioned king vows to forego all fleshly delights, setting the stage for romantic hijinks. The customary Shakespearean comic elements — lovers in disguise, a witty clown, and sparkling repartee — make it a joy for all.
Macbeth by William Shakespeare A Scottish nobleman murders the king in order to succeed to the throne. Tortured by his conscience and fearful of discovery, he becomes tangled in a web of treachery and deceit that ultimately spells his doom. A selection of the Common Core State Standards Initiative.
Measure for Measure: Unabridged by William Shakespeare One of the author's "dark" comedies, esteemed for its fascinating political and social implications as well as its compelling characters. A forceful exploration of public and private morality.
The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare Tragicomic drama of love, wealth and justice revolves around a Venetian moneylender's bargain with a young merchant for "a pound of flesh." Includes explanatory footnotes.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare Among the most popular of Shakespeare's comedies, this enchanting play humorously celebrates the vagaries of love as it focuses upon the intertwined romances of several pairs of lovers. Explanatory footnotes.
A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare, W. Heath Robinson From the exquisite title page to the playful two-page spread that closes the book, this graphic presentation of Shakespeare's most beloved play will surprise and delight the eye. Includes 12 full-page color plates, numerous black-and-white illustrations, and plentiful vignettes.
Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare Imaginative, exuberant comedy contrasts 2 pairs of lovers in a witty and suspenseful battle of the sexes. Filled with suspense, clever turns of plot, vivacious displays of wit, and charming songs.
Othello by William Shakespeare Towering tragedy tells the story of a Moorish general who earns the enmity of his ensign Iago when he passes him over for a promotion. Masterly portrait of an archvillain. Explanatory footnotes.
Richard III by William Shakespeare Final play in Shakespeare's dramatization of the strife between the Houses of York and Lancaster. Richard is stunning archvillain who seduces, betrays, and murders his way to the throne. Explanatory footnotes.
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare Tragic tale of star-crossed lovers, feuding families and timeless passion contains some of Shakespeare's most beautiful and lyrical love poetry. Complete, unabridged text with explanatory footnotes.
Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream by Arthur Rackham, William Shakespeare 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.
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare Passion divides and unites a spirited pair of lovers in a 16th-century battle of the sexes. Witty dialogue and slapstick humor abound in this ever-popular comedy. Inexpensive, unabridged edition perfect for students.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare The bewitching tale of Prospero, an old magician, and his daughter, who live on an enchanted island. A shipwreck brings old enemies to the island, setting the stage for comedy, romance, and reconciliation.
The Tempest by William Shakespeare, Edmund Dulac The most lavish version ever produced of Shakespeare's final comedy, this illustrated hardcover edition features the complete text plus 40 full-color plates by acclaimed fantasy artist Edmund Dulac.
Twelfth Night; Or, What You Will by William Shakespeare Delightfully comic tale revolves around the physical likeness between Sebastian and his twin sister, Viola. Filled with superb comic scenes, this delightful tale of mistaken identities remains one of Shakespeare's most popular and performed comedies.
The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare Running an emotional gamut from betrayal and broken hearts to romance and reconciliation, this 1611 tragicomedy begins with the tyrannical actions of a jealous king, whose baseless suspicions destroy his own family.
Shakespeare Lexicon and Quotation Dictionary, Vol. 1 by Alexander Schmidt Volume 1 of massive work by a leading Shakespeare scholar and lexicographer, a standard in the field, provides full definitions, locations, and shades of meaning in every word in Shakespeare's plays and poems.
Shakespeare's Stories for Young Readers by E. Nesbit Twelve of the Bard's most famous plays, delightfully adapted for young readers: Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, As You Like It, and 8 others.
The Soul of Wit: G. K. Chesterton on William Shakespeare by G. K. Chesterton, Dale Ahlquist G. K. Chesterton took a keen interest in the English literary tradition and wrote many essays on the country's greatest playwright. This compilation is selected and introduced by Chesterton expert Dale Ahlquist.
"Written with wit and panache, this erudite tome dismantles the arguments claiming that someone other than Shakespeare wrote his plays."—Publishers Weekly "The definitive study of the controversy."—The Shakespeare Newsletter "Of interest to anyone fascinated by this master of word-music and stage-action."—Washington Post Book World How could the son of a glove-maker, born and bred in an Elizabethan backwater, have developed into the immortal William Shakespeare? How is it possible that someone with no formal education beyond grammar school wrote the world's most read and performed plays? This captivating exploration of the mysteries surrounding Shakespeare's life and work offers a persuasive case for the authenticity of his authorship. Scholarly but readable, the study rests upon the surviving evidence of the playwright's family life and career, from his humble beginnings to the triumphant presentations of his dramas before commoners and royalty alike. Author Irvin Leigh Matus discusses the publication and dating of the plays, their performance in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, and the arguments favoring the Earl of Oxford as the true author. Reproductions of Elizabethan engravings, manuscript pages, and other illustrations complement this fascinating and accessible survey.
Reprint of the Continuum Publishing Company, New York, 1999 edition.
This book was printed in the United States of America.
Dover books are made to last a lifetime. Our US book-manufacturing partners produce the highest quality books in the world and they create jobs for our fellow citizens. Manufacturing in the United States also ensures that our books are printed in an environmentally friendly fashion, on paper sourced from responsibly managed forests.