William Shakespeare

Presents the original text of Shakespeare's play side by side with a paraphrased version and gives brief background on the author, the sources of the play, society in Elizabethan England, and the play's plot, themes, characters, and figures of speech.

Antonio, the merchant in The Merchant of Venice, secures a loan from Shylock for his friend Bassanio, who seeks to court Portia. Shylock, a Jewish moneylender, recalls past insults from Antonio and, instead of asking interest on the loan, asks instead--in what he calls a "merry sport"--That if the loan is not repaid, Antonio will owe a pound of his own flesh. Bassanio sails to Belmont, where the wealthy heiress Portia is being courted by suitors from...

A tragic drama about a young prince attempting to avenge his father's murder. His uncle has seduced Hamlet's mother, killed his father, and usurped his claim to the crown. Hamlet's melancholic, irrsolute temperament, however, inhibits decisive action and contributes to more calamities.

An edition of Shakespeare's comedy, including discussion of its plot, characters, themes, language, production, and author. Great pains have been taken to follow Shakespeare's intentions with regard to the act and scene division and the exact form of speech. The editing has been done from the quarto or folio texts, depending on which is considered more authoritative, and the ideal has been to reproduce the chosen texts with as few alterations as possible....

The complete works; the comedies, histories, tragedies, and poetry, including the sonnets.

Blending history and high drama, Antony and Cleopatra remains one of Shakespeare's finest achievements.