Product Description
John Dover Wilson's New Shakespeare, published between 1921 and 1966, became the classic Cambridge edition of Shakespeare's plays and poems until the 1980s. The series, long since out-of-print, is now reissued. Each work is available both individually and as a set, and each contains a lengthy and lively introduction, main text, and substantial notes and glossary printed at the back. The edition, which began with The Tempest and ended with The Sonnets, put into practice the techniques and theories that had evolved under the 'New Bibliography'. Remarkably by today's standards, although it took the best part of half a century to produce, the New Shakespeare involved only a small band of editors besides Dover Wilson himself. As the volumes took shape, many of Dover Wilson's textual methods acquired general acceptance and became an established part of later editorial practice, for example in the Arden and New Cambridge Shakespeares. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

King Lear Easy Version
This is a good book if you need to have a quick review and understanding of King Lear.If you are hard up of time (exams due soon or deadline for assignment..) and you haven't even got to reading the actual shakespearean verson, then I suggest you read the Easy version for a quick understanding of the play and it might just help you to get through the assignment or the exams.For real desperate students, this is a great help. But if you can, don't just read the easy version as you will miss out the beauty of Shakespeare use of language.....

King Lear
The book I ordered was for a World Lit class. I was afraid it wouldn't make it to me in time, but I received it a considerable amount of time before it was due. The condition of it was better than expected and it was a good read.

One of the Finest Plays Ever Written
I read King Lear after a long gap since my last reading of Shakespeare--in college.It was recommended by a former professor, David Allen White, as his favorite of Shakespeare's plays.I was not disappointed and found the play to be very compelling.For a novice, the play was a quick read, probably because the action and the characters were so interesting.This is one I'll probably have to read again in order to truly grasp its meaning and beauty.Since most high school and college students don't go beyond Macbeth, Hamlet, or Romeo and Juliet, I would highly recommend King Lear as a continuation of that introduction to Shakespeare.

His greatest triumph!
King Lear is the most devastating, and most powerful, piece in the cannon of Shakespeare. The characters in this play span the spectrum of human behavior and yet Shakespeare creates in each of them a reality that is hard to reject, even when their actions are most disturbing.
Despite the nihilism of the piece I never feel that Shakespeare is negating human existence, but rather, encouraging his audience to embrace the human experience in all its splendor and squalor. He has the blinded (and formerly suicidal) Gloucester say "You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me; let not my worser spirit tempt me again to die before you please." Gloucester has realized there are forces larger then us that "shape our ends" and that being fully human means to absorb the good and the bad.
In the characters of Edgar and Cordelia Shakespeare creates the stereotypical "good child." However, he also endows both creations with an otherworldly kindness towards their fathers that speaks to our better natures. The way that both children nurse their disturbed fathers back to health is a lesson in humility and forgiveness.
The villains in this text are the classical villains, from which all other villains flow, and the many subplots combine in a delicious web of deceit and destruction that ensnares in its web the very spiders that spun it.
However, the ultimate beauty in King Lear is in the power of redemption. When Lear begs the forgiveness of the daughter he has truly wronged, she responds with "No cause." We have all hurt someone we love, and who among us would not like to be absolved by those powerful words, "No cause"?
Lear's redemption and forgiveness is our own.

A Classroom Success Story
The Cambridge School Shakespeare series offers great classroom activities for teachers.They are useful to both theatre and English classes, as they really help students to understand and enjoy the material.King Lear is always my favorite, but the entire series is equally useful. ... Read more

Product Description
Oxford School Shakespeare is an acclaimed series especially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes that are easy to find and crystal clear. Each volume also includes decorative and explanatory illustrations, clear background information, rigorous but accessible commentary, up-to-date reading lists, the addresses of relevant websites, and classroom notes -all to help students to better appreciate the great works of Shakespeare. Now the six most popular books in the series have received a fresh new look. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Macbeth
The story is a tragedy but it is a very good read. One of Shakespeare's more serious works, it follows the exploits of the Scotsman Macbeth. It shows how greed can consume one's life and get them to do things they normally would be against. The play is, of course, written in Shakespearean English but the Oxford School Edition's annotations help you easily decipher all that is being said. ... Read more

Product Description

Each edition includes:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play

• Scene-by-scene plot summaries

• A key to famous lines and phrases

• An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language

• An essay by an outstanding scholar providing a modern perspective on the play

• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essay by Susan Snyder

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe.In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (53)

One of W.S's Best
I love the Folger Shakespeare editions.They contain essays on his life; his times; the play; the players; the theatre and always an essay on modern perspective.The left side of each page has all the notes pertaining to that page's dialogue.The annotations are always spot on and save a lot of time and page flipping versus all those publishers who put them at the back of the play.

Othello is a magnificient play of deceit, sex, betrayal and murder.Certainly one of his very best dramas, which is to say, one of the very best of all time.We, who speak English, are so very fortunate that we needn't read a translation.I detest the "Shakespeare made easy" editions as nothing more than a lowering of standards to the level of a H.S. dropout.People should read the original play, not some dumb-downed substitute.

Reading with Tequila
I found Othello to be one of the easiest Shakespeare plays to read and understand. It's themes of jealousy and betrayal by those closest to you have been relevant throughout the 400 years since the play was written. I also felt an underlying theme of prejudice that I may or may not have imagined.

I regret that Othello wasn't taught in my high school English class, as I found it to be more relatable to the generation than Romeo & Juliet. Othello makes you realize the power you give to the people you trust. Iago was the ultimate frenemy, believed due to is closeness with Othello as well as his reputation for honesty. Instead of ruining Othello, he set events to lead Othello to ruin himself. The man was diabolical, yet his plan was so simple it's a plot staple of soap operas today.

Excellent play, awful tome
Two stars instead of one just because the play itself is a masterpiece. The first time I attempted reading Othello several years ago, it was this version. I had to read it for Academic Team, so I HAD to read it. And I suffered. The Folger format is tedious (and archaic language needs no help feeling tedious) -- there are notes, yes, but they are on pages opposing the text. It felt like a stilted read, like I was getting nowhere, because you have to go 'backwards' (to the previous page) instead of 'forward' (to a footnote) to find out what anything means. The notes are decent, just enough to get by, but not nearly as in-depth as I wanted. The text was visually unappealing as well, not spaced or indented well for easy reading. Maybe that all sounds picky, but it's important to me. I bought another version -- Othello (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series) -- to get me through the Academic Team season, and I found its notes to be much more comprehensive and the printing much more aesthetically pleasing. I would only suggest Folger if you've already read the play and want to compare notes/definitions. Folger would have kept me from discovering what has since become my favorite play. Period.

Completely satisfied
The book was delivered to my international address much quicker than I thought it would be, and was in great condition.

Othello
Buy this book online and never received, Very disappoint for the service, I will be think twice before buy anything from this side again. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful if you don't understand Shakespearean English
For our 5th Form (11th grade) Lit class our Lit teacher recommended that we all use this book to help us with the drama. The original books which were given to us were difficult for many of us to understand. However, with No Fear Shakespeare and our wonderful Lit teacher we all passes Lit, most of us passed with B+ and up and I received 100 % on my English Lit exam as well as a 98% year average in Lit for that year !!! Recommended by me, my Lit teacher and my entire Lit class

Good translation
The play has the original on one page, a modern verse translation on the other. The translation is solid, not simplisitic. Book could be imporved with an essaya or two on the play's meaning. It is one of Shakespeare's more ambivalnt plays, with no onecharacter especially likeable, sort of like the characters on "Survivor Island." ... Read more

Product Description

This is an electronic edition of the complete book complemented by author biography. This book features the table of contents linked to every act and scene. The book was designed for optimal navigation on the Kindle, PDA, Smartphone, and other electronic readers. It is formatted to display on all electronic devices including the Kindle, Smartphones and other Mobile Devices with a small display.

Customer Reviews (1)

good vs evil
Macbeth by William Shakespeare

This is a Kindle edition of a great play. "Macbeth" is one of the works of Shakespeare that particularly appeals to me. ... Read more

Product Description
Authoritative and accessible editions for schools and colleges, offering: Complete and unabridged text Clear, concise notes, adjacent to text for easy reference Detailed explanations of difficult words and passages Illustrations to enhance understanding Thorough, updated notes feature: Social, historical, and literary context Insights into the play, and its characters and themes Lively and focused teaching ideas, including drama activities Suggestions for further reading and resources Guidance on Shakespeare's language Biographical and source information Plot synopsis and commentary ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Product Description
The World of Shakespeare:The Complete Plays and Sonnets of William Shakespeare (38 Volume Library)By William ShakespeareStephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmiller, General Editors

Amazon.com Exclusive

The Pelican Shakespeare is available in hardcover for the first time in one complete collection only at Amazon.com.

For anyone with an abiding love of the Bard and his to all of Shakepeares singular contributiOn to English literature, this complete library combines enduring beauty with the scholarship and authority demanded by modern readers. Easier to read and enjoy than massive, single-volume editions, these individual volumes feature authori tative text, essays on how the plays would have been performed in Shakespeare's day, and notes valuable for general readers, teachers, students, and theater professionals.Here, in 38 truly stunning heirloom volumes, are William Shakespeare's classic plays and sonnets in the only complete, individually-bound set of Shakespeare's works currently available. The tragedies, comedies, histories, and poetry, so beloved by millions of readers and theater-goers, are reproduced here in luxurious, linen-bound hardcovers, enhanced by silver stamping on the covers and spines, and sewn-in, satin ribbon markers.

The distinguished Pelican Shakespeare editions have sold five million copies. Since the series debuted more than forty years ago, developments in scholarship have revolutionized our understanding of William Shakespeare, his time, and his works. The general editors of the Pelican Shakespeare, Stephen Orgel of Stanford University and A. R. Braunmiller of UCLA, have assembled a team of six eminent scholars who, along with the general editors themselves, have prepared new introductions and note* 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 with silver stamping, ribbon marker, printed endpapers, and acid-free paper* Line numbers marking every tenth line and footnote references* Both glossorial and explanatory notes appearing conveniently at the foot of the page

Included are:

Tragedies

Antony and Cleopatra

Coriolanus

Hamlet

Julius Caesar

King Lear

Macbeth

Othello

Romeo and Juliet

Timon of Athens

Titus Andronicus

Histories

Henry IV, Part I

Henry IV, Part II

Henry V

Henry VI, Part I

Henry VI, Part II

Henry VI, Part III

Henry VIII

King John

Richard II

Richard III

Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well

As You Like It

The Comedy of Errors

Cymbeline

Love's Labor's Lost

Measure for Measure

The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merchant of Venice

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Much Ado About Nothing

Pericles

The Taming of the Shrew

The Tempest

Troilus and Cressida

Twelfth Night

Two Gentlemen of Verona

The Winter's Tale

Poetry

The Sonnets ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

A GREAT Deal!
This is an amazing bargain --- quality bindings, excellent background articles, interesting introductions, helpful notes, all in a convnerient, quality binding. I cannot imagine a better edition for anyone who actually plans to READ Shakespeare. And the price . . . .unbelievable. Get it while it's available.

To buy or not to buy? That is not the question!
Comments on the quality of the writing are unnecessary: this is Shakespeare in all his glory. Some people quibble about the few poems that were left out but I don't see that as an issue. Those poems can easily be printed out and inserted into the appropriate book. A little irksome? Yes. A deal breaker? No. The quality is wonderful and, even at the $150+ price, it is a great deal. The books aren't some rare, ornate collector's set but they are a good, sturdy set for someone who desires to use and treasure them for many years to come.

Absolutely worth it, but wait for the price drop
I bought this for a little under $100 a while back.I can wholeheartedly concur with other reviewers that the quality is exceptional for the price, and that I have derived may hours of enjoyment reading the works of the Immortal Bard.This is far better than my old single-volume Shakespeare, or even the 3-volume Oxford set I received as a gift years and years ago.If you are a scholar, you may be concerned with verifying the editing - I am not, and it seems fine to me.The essays and notes are informative and useful.While I do regret that the sonnets are the only peotry included, and "The Two Noble Kinsmen" is missing, this is still a fantastic deal.

The bindings are of good (but not necessarily "stunning") quality, the print is well done and easily readable.Each volume is of a handy and easily-handled size.The notes are helpful, but not intrusive.

All in all, definitely a worthwhile purchase.I've given it as a graduation gift and it has been very well-received.

Not flaw free, but still an amazing deal
At the moment of writing, the price of this collection is at 180$, almost a 100$ less than when I bought them. This is of course slightly annoying, but a great boon for everyone else. I would have bought them over again for the price I paid.

The books are indeed all in hardcover. The quality is good, but not perfect (then again, at this price, what could you expect?). The golden font used on the outside will deteriorate through repeated use, if you are heavy handed and/or have acidic skin. I have both, but I imagine it wouldn't be a problem for most people. The floral patterns on the inside of the covers are anything but pretty, but no one in their right minds would remove stars for THAT, right?

The main attractions of such a set, compared to a "complete works" tome, is in my opinion: (1) The light weight of each book, and (2) the larger font used. Point (2) is fulfilled in a wonderful way. The font is large, and the pages aren't overfilled the way they often are in the "tomes" (which leads to an especially annoying side-effect: The poetic pentametre sometimes won't fit on one line). There are plenty of footer notes in this edition, and space on each page to add whatever you feel is missing.

Besides the respectable but not fantastic binding, I have a few gripes. First of all, the omittion of some of Shakespeare's works not intended for the stage in inexplicable. Secondly, the same foreword is repeated in every book. I realize that this makes them slightly longer, which may be preferable to some of these books who would be rather skinny on their own, but it still seems like a waste.

Bottom line: This set is not flawless, but it is a great deal, especially with today's lowered price. Get it before they raise it again!

PS: For he foreign Amazon users out there: I didn't pay more than 20$ or so to have this package shipped to Norway! Even though the books were rather expensive when I bought them, the low shipping cost would still make them cheaper than buying paperback copies of every Shakespeare play at a local book store.

Best Overall Reading Experience of my Life.I wish I Tried this sooner!
Well,I have had many wonderful experiences in my life.Working with a Nobel Laurate, studying piano with a two Grammy winning artist-Earl Wild and then becoming a respected surgeon.My single best learning experience is currently having read the complete works of Shakespeare.This ensemble of well edited and written commentaries of the Bard along with a sturdy, convient and well presented text of the plays (purchased on Abebooks for 58.00 with shipping) as given me an unofficial MS in English literature.My favorite plays are the Tempest, Titus Andonicus, Timon of Athens, A Winter's Tale and Pericles.As you read 400 year old Shakespeare's works we see that the world rhyme and reason for functionality and our response to it has changed at old.the same problems we have now were present then and no better or worse.Of course the killing in these plays is enormous and doesn't happen in everyday's experience anymore but we still poorly manage hate and violence with even more hate and violence.So as Shakespeare far as my experience is concerned I found it even more enlightening than reading the complete works of Dostoyevsky which is saying a loy.Good reading.It took me 8 months with one play a week.Read through the commentaries which are well conceived and balanced. ... Read more

Product Description
A lavish, interactive introduction to the great poet’s life, his work and the times he lived in.

In this enthralling scrapbook that William Shakespeare compiled for his daughter, he looks back on his life as he retires from the theatre. Discover late-sixteenth- and early-seventeenth centurystories of love, war, kings and queens, fellow playwrights and actors, explorers and life in London. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Opening Shakespeare to Youthful Eyes!
To appreciate the wonders of this book, you really need more images of the book's interactive interior. There are dozens of goodies inside this large-format 30-page book with a hardback cover that "unlocks" via that skeleton keyhole you see in the middle of the front cover. Quite frankly, this is a terrific gift even for teenagers and adults who are trying to summon the energy to begin exploring Shakespeare's works.

The entire book, including dozens of flaps, pockets, envelopes and other fold-out "extras" seems to have been designed by a graphic artist with a taste for the realms of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings--that kind of historical fantasy. Throughout the book, tiny rose-and-beige-colored "booklets" open from the bigger pages, summarizing the Bard's many plays--always with an eye to entice young readers.

Here's a Potter-ish summary of Hamlet in one of these little booklets-within-a-book: "In one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, Hamlet, prince of Denmark, is visited by the ghost of his dead father. The ghost begs Hamlet to avenge his murder by Hamlet's wicked uncle Claudius, who is now the new king and married to Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet pretends to be mad to disguise his plot of revenge and stages a play that will make the king reveal his guilt. But Hamlet's beloved, Ophelia, really does go mad after ..." There are a few more sentences in the actual booklet, but you get the point, right? The designers of this book know how to entice young readers these days: Suspense! Ghosts! (Or are the ghosts real?) Murder! Madness! (Or is the madness real?) And wicked adults who must be stopped by the young people in the play!

Of course, that's what Shakespeare understood in his own era and why his works were so successful in the first place.

And, if you're giving this book to a youthful or adult reader, why not add a DVD of Kenneth Brannagh's production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition). Better yet, Brannagh's epic production, which produces the entire uncut play, is now available in Blu-ray as well to really knock your eyes out as the drama explodes on the screen. Here's that Blu-ray link: Hamlet [Blu-ray Book]

A letter from Will
It's funny how many people come to Shakespeare thinking he's boring or dull or whatever, even before they've heard or read a word of what he wrote. This delightful introduction, presented both in and out of character, should go a long way to changing that. The Shakespeare in these pages is a real person, full of life, joys, and sorrows. On the eve of retirement, he writes a letter to his daughter Judith, waiting for him at home in Stratford, and describes the England he knows and especially the great city of London where he has spent most of his career. This book, for the most part, is that letter. (It begins in the very first envelope on the title page. Don't miss it!)

The voice is warm, friendly, and fatherly--the Elizabethan tone is suggested more than anything else. Pull-outs, fold-outs, and envelopes add interest with proverbs, advice, theatre hand-bills, and other bits and pieces you won't find at a Renaissance festival. The beautifully illustrated double-pages are a scrap-book of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean world that will give any reader a pleasant taste of what Shakespeare and his contemporaries, peasants and peers, thought and believed about the world, and how they lived in it, too. Love and family life, plays and the theatre, war and science, even what they ate, drank, and laughed at are all represented.

The brilliant Ari Berk never ceases to delight, and this time--writing in partnership with his wife, the equally talented Kristen McDermott--is no exception. Together, the authors have given us a rare life and times, a book that shows us Shakespeare not as the Great Bard but as a husband and father, working writer and actor, looking forward to coming home. It's a joy to read and page through, and will doubtless become a treasured book even after the reader has "out-grown" it.
... Read more

Product Description
The World of Shakespeare:The Complete Plays and Sonnets of William Shakespeare (38 Volume Library)By William ShakespeareStephen Orgel and A. R. Braunmiller, General Editors

Amazon.com Exclusive

The Pelican Shakespeare is available in hardcover for the first time in one complete collection only at Amazon.com.

For anyone with an abiding love of the Bard and his to all of Shakepeares singular contributiOn to English literature, this complete library combines enduring beauty with the scholarship and authority demanded by modern readers. Easier to read and enjoy than massive, single-volume editions, these individual volumes feature authori tative text, essays on how the plays would have been performed in Shakespeare's day, and notes valuable for general readers, teachers, students, and theater professionals.Here, in 38 truly stunning heirloom volumes, are William Shakespeare's classic plays and sonnets in the only complete, individually-bound set of Shakespeare's works currently available. The tragedies, comedies, histories, and poetry, so beloved by millions of readers and theater-goers, are reproduced here in luxurious, linen-bound hardcovers, enhanced by silver stamping on the covers and spines, and sewn-in, satin ribbon markers.

The distinguished Pelican Shakespeare editions have sold five million copies. Since the series debuted more than forty years ago, developments in scholarship have revolutionized our understanding of William Shakespeare, his time, and his works. The general editors of the Pelican Shakespeare, Stephen Orgel of Stanford University and A. R. Braunmiller of UCLA, have assembled a team of six eminent scholars who, along with the general editors themselves, have prepared new introductions and note* 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 with silver stamping, ribbon marker, printed endpapers, and acid-free paper* Line numbers marking every tenth line and footnote references* Both glossorial and explanatory notes appearing conveniently at the foot of the page

Included are:

Tragedies

Antony and Cleopatra

Coriolanus

Hamlet

Julius Caesar

King Lear

Macbeth

Othello

Romeo and Juliet

Timon of Athens

Titus Andronicus

Histories

Henry IV, Part I

Henry IV, Part II

Henry V

Henry VI, Part I

Henry VI, Part II

Henry VI, Part III

Henry VIII

King John

Richard II

Richard III

Comedies

All's Well That Ends Well

As You Like It

The Comedy of Errors

Cymbeline

Love's Labor's Lost

Measure for Measure

The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merchant of Venice

A Midsummer Night's Dream

Much Ado About Nothing

Pericles

The Taming of the Shrew

The Tempest

Troilus and Cressida

Twelfth Night

Two Gentlemen of Verona

The Winter's Tale

Poetry

The Sonnets ... Read more

Customer Reviews (47)

A GREAT Deal!
This is an amazing bargain --- quality bindings, excellent background articles, interesting introductions, helpful notes, all in a convnerient, quality binding. I cannot imagine a better edition for anyone who actually plans to READ Shakespeare. And the price . . . .unbelievable. Get it while it's available.

To buy or not to buy? That is not the question!
Comments on the quality of the writing are unnecessary: this is Shakespeare in all his glory. Some people quibble about the few poems that were left out but I don't see that as an issue. Those poems can easily be printed out and inserted into the appropriate book. A little irksome? Yes. A deal breaker? No. The quality is wonderful and, even at the $150+ price, it is a great deal. The books aren't some rare, ornate collector's set but they are a good, sturdy set for someone who desires to use and treasure them for many years to come.

Absolutely worth it, but wait for the price drop
I bought this for a little under $100 a while back.I can wholeheartedly concur with other reviewers that the quality is exceptional for the price, and that I have derived may hours of enjoyment reading the works of the Immortal Bard.This is far better than my old single-volume Shakespeare, or even the 3-volume Oxford set I received as a gift years and years ago.If you are a scholar, you may be concerned with verifying the editing - I am not, and it seems fine to me.The essays and notes are informative and useful.While I do regret that the sonnets are the only peotry included, and "The Two Noble Kinsmen" is missing, this is still a fantastic deal.

The bindings are of good (but not necessarily "stunning") quality, the print is well done and easily readable.Each volume is of a handy and easily-handled size.The notes are helpful, but not intrusive.

All in all, definitely a worthwhile purchase.I've given it as a graduation gift and it has been very well-received.

Not flaw free, but still an amazing deal
At the moment of writing, the price of this collection is at 180$, almost a 100$ less than when I bought them. This is of course slightly annoying, but a great boon for everyone else. I would have bought them over again for the price I paid.

The books are indeed all in hardcover. The quality is good, but not perfect (then again, at this price, what could you expect?). The golden font used on the outside will deteriorate through repeated use, if you are heavy handed and/or have acidic skin. I have both, but I imagine it wouldn't be a problem for most people. The floral patterns on the inside of the covers are anything but pretty, but no one in their right minds would remove stars for THAT, right?

The main attractions of such a set, compared to a "complete works" tome, is in my opinion: (1) The light weight of each book, and (2) the larger font used. Point (2) is fulfilled in a wonderful way. The font is large, and the pages aren't overfilled the way they often are in the "tomes" (which leads to an especially annoying side-effect: The poetic pentametre sometimes won't fit on one line). There are plenty of footer notes in this edition, and space on each page to add whatever you feel is missing.

Besides the respectable but not fantastic binding, I have a few gripes. First of all, the omittion of some of Shakespeare's works not intended for the stage in inexplicable. Secondly, the same foreword is repeated in every book. I realize that this makes them slightly longer, which may be preferable to some of these books who would be rather skinny on their own, but it still seems like a waste.

Bottom line: This set is not flawless, but it is a great deal, especially with today's lowered price. Get it before they raise it again!

PS: For he foreign Amazon users out there: I didn't pay more than 20$ or so to have this package shipped to Norway! Even though the books were rather expensive when I bought them, the low shipping cost would still make them cheaper than buying paperback copies of every Shakespeare play at a local book store.

Best Overall Reading Experience of my Life.I wish I Tried this sooner!
Well,I have had many wonderful experiences in my life.Working with a Nobel Laurate, studying piano with a two Grammy winning artist-Earl Wild and then becoming a respected surgeon.My single best learning experience is currently having read the complete works of Shakespeare.This ensemble of well edited and written commentaries of the Bard along with a sturdy, convient and well presented text of the plays (purchased on Abebooks for 58.00 with shipping) as given me an unofficial MS in English literature.My favorite plays are the Tempest, Titus Andonicus, Timon of Athens, A Winter's Tale and Pericles.As you read 400 year old Shakespeare's works we see that the world rhyme and reason for functionality and our response to it has changed at old.the same problems we have now were present then and no better or worse.Of course the killing in these plays is enormous and doesn't happen in everyday's experience anymore but we still poorly manage hate and violence with even more hate and violence.So as Shakespeare far as my experience is concerned I found it even more enlightening than reading the complete works of Dostoyevsky which is saying a loy.Good reading.It took me 8 months with one play a week.Read through the commentaries which are well conceived and balanced. ... Read more

Product Description
A lavish, interactive introduction to the great poet’s life, his work and the times he lived in.

In this enthralling scrapbook that William Shakespeare compiled for his daughter, he looks back on his life as he retires from the theatre. Discover late-sixteenth- and early-seventeenth centurystories of love, war, kings and queens, fellow playwrights and actors, explorers and life in London. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Opening Shakespeare to Youthful Eyes!
To appreciate the wonders of this book, you really need more images of the book's interactive interior. There are dozens of goodies inside this large-format 30-page book with a hardback cover that "unlocks" via that skeleton keyhole you see in the middle of the front cover. Quite frankly, this is a terrific gift even for teenagers and adults who are trying to summon the energy to begin exploring Shakespeare's works.

The entire book, including dozens of flaps, pockets, envelopes and other fold-out "extras" seems to have been designed by a graphic artist with a taste for the realms of Harry Potter or Lord of the Rings--that kind of historical fantasy. Throughout the book, tiny rose-and-beige-colored "booklets" open from the bigger pages, summarizing the Bard's many plays--always with an eye to entice young readers.

Here's a Potter-ish summary of Hamlet in one of these little booklets-within-a-book: "In one of Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, Hamlet, prince of Denmark, is visited by the ghost of his dead father. The ghost begs Hamlet to avenge his murder by Hamlet's wicked uncle Claudius, who is now the new king and married to Hamlet's mother, Gertrude. Hamlet pretends to be mad to disguise his plot of revenge and stages a play that will make the king reveal his guilt. But Hamlet's beloved, Ophelia, really does go mad after ..." There are a few more sentences in the actual booklet, but you get the point, right? The designers of this book know how to entice young readers these days: Suspense! Ghosts! (Or are the ghosts real?) Murder! Madness! (Or is the madness real?) And wicked adults who must be stopped by the young people in the play!

Of course, that's what Shakespeare understood in his own era and why his works were so successful in the first place.

And, if you're giving this book to a youthful or adult reader, why not add a DVD of Kenneth Brannagh's production of William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition). Better yet, Brannagh's epic production, which produces the entire uncut play, is now available in Blu-ray as well to really knock your eyes out as the drama explodes on the screen. Here's that Blu-ray link: Hamlet [Blu-ray Book]

A letter from Will
It's funny how many people come to Shakespeare thinking he's boring or dull or whatever, even before they've heard or read a word of what he wrote. This delightful introduction, presented both in and out of character, should go a long way to changing that. The Shakespeare in these pages is a real person, full of life, joys, and sorrows. On the eve of retirement, he writes a letter to his daughter Judith, waiting for him at home in Stratford, and describes the England he knows and especially the great city of London where he has spent most of his career. This book, for the most part, is that letter. (It begins in the very first envelope on the title page. Don't miss it!)

The voice is warm, friendly, and fatherly--the Elizabethan tone is suggested more than anything else. Pull-outs, fold-outs, and envelopes add interest with proverbs, advice, theatre hand-bills, and other bits and pieces you won't find at a Renaissance festival. The beautifully illustrated double-pages are a scrap-book of the late Elizabethan and early Jacobean world that will give any reader a pleasant taste of what Shakespeare and his contemporaries, peasants and peers, thought and believed about the world, and how they lived in it, too. Love and family life, plays and the theatre, war and science, even what they ate, drank, and laughed at are all represented.

The brilliant Ari Berk never ceases to delight, and this time--writing in partnership with his wife, the equally talented Kristen McDermott--is no exception. Together, the authors have given us a rare life and times, a book that shows us Shakespeare not as the Great Bard but as a husband and father, working writer and actor, looking forward to coming home. It's a joy to read and page through, and will doubtless become a treasured book even after the reader has "out-grown" it.
... Read more

Product Description

FOLGER SHAKESPEARE LIBRARY

THE WORLD'S LEADING CENTER FOR SHAKESPEARE STUDIES

This edition includes:

• Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on the page facing each sonnet and poem
• A brief introduction to each sonnet and poem, providing insight and context
• Introductions to reading Shakespeare's language in the sonnets and in the poems
• Essays by leading Shakespeare scholars who provide modern perspectives on the sonnets and on the poems
• Illustrations from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books

Essays by Lynne Magnusson and Catherine Belsey

The Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, D.C., is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs. For more information, visit www.folger.edu. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Wonderful Shakespeare
I have not read all the book yet, but, I have read quite a few sonnets and Shakespeares epic 'venus and Adonis' love them and would recomend this book to any Shakespeare lover or lover of poetry.

Lord of my love, to whom in vassalage
Thy merit hath my duty strongly knit,
To thee I send this written embassage,
To witness duty, not to show my wit.
(Sonnet 26.)

How to do justice to the legacy of literary history's greatest mind - moreover in such a limited review? Forget Goethe's "universal genius" and his rebel contemporary Schiller; forget the 19th century masters; forget contemporary literature: with the possible (!) exception of three Greek gentlemen named Aischylos, Sophocles and Euripides, a certain Frenchman called Poquelin (a/k/a Moliere), and that infamous Irishman Oscar Wilde, there's more wit in a single line of Shakespeare's than in an entire page of most other, even great, authors' works. And I'm not saying this in ignorance of, or in order to slight any other writer: it's precisely my admiration of the world's literary giants, past and present, that makes me appreciate Shakespeare even more -- and that although I'm aware that he repeatedly borrowed from pre-existing material and that even the (sole) authorship of the works published under his name isn't established beyond doubt. For ultimately, the only thing that matters to me is the brilliance of those works themselves; and quite honestly, the mysteries continuing to enshroud his person, to me, only enhance his larger-than-life stature.

The precise dating of Shakespeare's sonnets -- like other poets', a response to the 1591 publication of Sir Philip Sidney's "Astrophil and Stella" -- is an even greater guessing game than that of his plays: although #138 and #144 (slightly modified) appeared in 1599's "Passionate Pilgrim," most were probably circulated privately, and written years before their first -- unauthorized, though still authoritative - 1609 publication; possibly beginning in 1592-1593.

Format-wise, they adopt the Elizabethan fourteen-line-structure of three quatrains of iambic pentameters expressing a series of increasingly intense ideas, resolved in a closing couplet; with an abab-cdcd-efef-gg rhyme form. (Sole exceptions: #99 -- first quatrain amplified by one line -- #126 -- six couplets & only twelve lines total -- #145 -- written in tetrameter -- and #146 -- omission of the second line's beginning; the subject of a lasting debate.) Their order is thematic rather than chronological, although beyond the fact that the first 126 are addressed to a young man -- maybe the Earl of Pembroke or Southampton, maybe Sir Robert Dudley, the natural son of Queen Elizabeth's "Sweet Robin," the Earl of Leicester -- (the first seventeen, possibly commissioned by the addressee's family, pressing his marriage and production of an heir), and ##127-152 (or 127-133 and 147-152) to an exotic woman of questionable virtues only known as "The Dark Lady," even in that respect much remains unclear; including the nature of Shakespeare's relationship with the two main addressees, regarding which the sonnets' often ambiguous metaphors invoke much speculation. #145 is probably addressed to Shakespeare's wife; the closing couplet plays on her maiden name ("['I hate' from] hate away she threw And saved my life, [saying 'not you']:" "Hathaway -- Anne saved my life"), several others contain puns on the name Will and its double meaning(s) (exactly fourteen in the naughty #135: "Whoever hath her wish, thou hast thy Will;" and seven in the similarly mischievous #136), and the last two draw on the then-popular Cupid theme. Sometimes, placement seems linked to contents, e.g., in #8 (music: an octave has eight notes), #12 and #60 (time: twelve hours to both day and night; sixty minutes to an hour); and in the famous #55, which praises poetry's everlasting power and as whose never-expressly-named subject Shakespeare himself emerges in a comparison with Horace's Ode 3.30 -- in turn written in first person singular and thus, denoting its own author as the builder of its "monument more lasting than bronze" ("Exegi monumentum aere perennius") -- as well as through the number "5"'s optical similarity to the letter "S," making the sonnet's number a shorthand reference for "5hake5peare" or "5hakespeare's 5onnets," echoed by numerous words containing an "S" in the text.

Of indescribable linguistic beauty, elegance and complexity, Shakespeare's sonnets owe their timeless appeal to their supreme compositional values, the universality of their themes, and their keen insights into the human heart and soul; as much as their transcendence of the era's poetic conventions which, following Petrarch, heavily idealized the addressee's qualities: a form new and exciting twohundred years earlier, but encrusted in cliche in the late 1500s. Indeed, Shakespeare's "Dark Lady" Sonnet #130 owes its particular fame to its clever puns on that very style, which went overboard with references to its golden-haired, starry- (beamy-, sparkling, sunny-) eyed, cherry- (strawberry-, vermilion-, coral-) lipped, rosy- (crimson-, purple-, dawn-) cheeked, ivory- (lily-, carnation-, crystal-, silver-, snowy-, swan-white) skinned, pearl-teethed, honey- (nectar-, music-) tongued, goddess-like objects. "My mistress' eyes are nothing like the sun;" the Bard countered, proceeded to describe her breasts as "dun," her hair as "black wires," and her breath as "reek[ing]," and denied her any divine or angelic attributes. "And yet," he concluded: "by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare."

Arguably, Shakespeare's very choice of addressees (a young man -- also the subject of the famously romantic #18: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day;" the first of several sonnets promising his immortalization in poetry -- as well as the "Dark Lady," in turn introduced under the notion "black is beautiful" in #127) itself suggests a break with tradition; and compared to his contemporaries' poetry, even the equally-famous #116's on its face rather conventional praise of love's constancy ("Let me not to the marriage of true minds admit impediments"), echoed in the poet's vow to vanquish time in #123, sounds fairly restrained. But ultimately, Shakespeare's sonnets -- like his entire work -- simply defy categorization. They are, as rival Ben Jonson acknowledged, written "for all time," just as the Bard himself immodestly claimed:

'Gainst death and all oblivious enmity
Shall you pace forth; your praise shall still find room
Even in the eyes of all posterity
That wear this world out to the ending doom.
(Sonnet 55.)

Also recommended:
The Oxford Shakespeare: The Complete Works 2nd Edition
Shakespeare: For All Time (Oxford Shakespeare)
Much Ado About Nothing
Love's Labour's Lost
William Shakespeare's Hamlet (Two-Disc Special Edition)
BBC Shakespeare Comedies DVD Giftbox
BBC Shakespeare Tragedies DVD Giftbox
Olivier's Shakespeare - Criterion Collection (Hamlet / Henry V / Richard III)
William Shakespeare's The Merchant of Venice
Twelfth Night ... Read more

Product Description
This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Delightful after 400 years!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000JMLOJU/ref=cm_cr_rev_prod_img

A piece of magic on the stage or screen--or on the electronic paper!

This is probably Shakespeare's most delightful comedy, and I'm glad I have read it in several editions and seen various versions of the play on large screen, small screen, and stage. I wish schools would teach this instead of trying to get the kids to understand Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar. Even if they don't understand this one, they can tell that it's fun and somewhat vulgar, with Bottom running around in an ass's head and the Queen of the Fairies falling in temporary love with him. "Fairy" might not yet have had its most recent meaning, but Bottom in an ass's head suggested exactly the same thing then that it suggests now

While I was getting my doctorate in English, my Shakespeare teacher worshiped Shakespeare instead of enjoying it for what it was worth. She almost went ballistic when somebody pointed out vulgarities and slapstick in the plays, because we too were supposed to worship Shakespeare instead of analyzing him. Sorry, but I was right and she was wrong. Shakespeare was a very bawdy writer, and he enjoyed being bawdy.

DO NOT see the movie Dead Poet's Society without reading or watching this play first.

Delightful
This is a delightful book. A Midsummer Night's Dream is one of Shakespeare's most magical, romantic and comedic plays. It has been written very well and is a funny story. It revolves around 3 different and enjoyable plots all woven together.

absolutely my favorite.
i read this, and i just fell in love with it. i think this has become my favorite book or whatever it's concidered as of all time! i love how it's set up on this; it makes it very pleasing to read with a simple layout for it. some of his other plays on the kindle are set up in a more confusing way, but this one is jsut right. i cannot wait until we do julius caeser in my english class!

Amazing
By far one of my favorite Shakespeare works.I still can't believe how many free books i can get for my kindle!!

A True Piece of Literature
Our fall play this year is a mid summer nights dream.This is a perfect way to practice my lines. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Books
My son needed this book for school and with the price and quick delivery Amazon comes through again. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Am I going to read this?
I purchased this with the full and ardent intention of reading through the entire corpus of Shakespeare, in the order the plays and poems appear, in this seminal volume.
I've already quit, and I didn't even begin.
I just hate Shakespeare, and you can't make me like him.
I may try to come back to this, though. I don't know.

Notes on the volume itself: the font is smaller than I wish it were, but this is what you have to have if you want a manageable volume in terms of size (as this is). Also, I wished the volume would have footnotes defining difficult terms on each page; instead, we get a dictionary in the back--wish is very useful, but requires a lot of flipping.

Good luck.

"The Complete Works Of Shakespeare",a book by professor Peter Alexander.
This is a very reputable one-volume Shakespeare edited by the late professor Peter Alexander, chosen by the BBC as the basis for its major production of the complete Shakespearian plays. The book has an excellent introduction on William Shakespeare (who he was, his family, his writings & performance of his plays in his life time including the cast in some of his plays)! The book contains all his 36 Plays (catalogued) & 6 Poems (including all his Sonnets), appendix & glossary with 2 500 items (giving meaning to obsolete & difficult words and phrases). Footnote glossary would have been better than the glossary being at the back of the book! The book has been a "gold standard" since its first publication in 1951, highly recommended reading.

Tales of the bard
Shakespeare requires no introduction -- he is "the Bard," the most imposing playwright and storyteller in the English language. And "William Shakespeare: The Complete Works" brings together every one of his 39 plays, ranging from harrowing tragedies to airy little puffs of comedy -- and even the lesser plays are still brilliant.

The plays basically are divided into comedies, histories and tragedies. The tragedies are pretty much... tragic, the comedies are not always funny but end semi-happily, and the histories... well, dramatizations of history.

And everybody has heard of the greats here -- the Scottish lord who murders his way to kingship, young lovers divided by a feud, a Moorish general who is driven mad with jealousy, an elderly king whose arrogance rips his life apart, a very cleaned-up version of Henry VIII's split from his first wife, the goofy Prince Hal and his growth into a great king. There are feuding fairies, bickering lovers, romantic tangles, Julius Caesar's demise, gender-bending, an exiled duke/magician on his island, and the infamous "pound of flesh" bargain.

But Shakespeare also wrote a bunch of lesser-known plays that often can't be so neatly categorized -- a rotten love affair during the siege of Troy, a Roman general attacking his own city, an Athenian gentleman embittered by humanity, Richard III's Machiavellian plot to become king, two sets of twins separated at birth, a corrupt judge obsessed with a lovely nun, Falstaff's doomed efforts to make money, and so on. Some of these ("Troilus and Cressida") aren't nearly as good as his "main" body of work, but they're still excellent.

For all Shakespeare's plays, it's best to read them AFTER you've seen a good performance. Otherwise, it's like reading a movie script to a movie you haven't seen -- easy to get lost, and the dramatic effects aren't easy to connect to. But if you've seen performances of any/all of Shakespeare's plays, then his vibrant stories and poetry leap off the page.

There are long eloquent speeches, puns, clever linguistic twists, and evocative language that soaks the play in atmosphere ("With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine/There sleeps Titania sometime of the night/Lull'd in these flowers with dances and delight..."). In fact, his plays are diamond mines of quotations -- some are infamous ("To be or not to be") and some of which have floated into public knowledge without labels ("Cowards die many times before their deaths/The valiant never taste of death but once").

And while some of his plays are basically fluff, he manages to weave in moral questions, criticism and explorations of the human soul. And his characters range as far as his plots -- kings and princes, teenage lovers, proud but doomed men, bratty queens, the witty but combative Beatrice and Benedick, and even the puppet-master mage Prospero.

Shakespeare's "Complete Works" is a must-have for anyone who loves the English language -- his writing was unparalleled, and even his lesser plays are a cut above the rest.

Shakepeare
The book took a little time to come.However, it is perfect for my daughter who is a Shakespeare fan.

Good, but incomplete
While the Harper-Collins edition is nicely laid out and a comfortable size, it is incorrectly called a "complete" collection. It is based on the 1951 Alexander text, which does not include either Edward III or The Two Noble Kinsmen. This edition contains the orthodox canon of yesteryear. With a limited selection of support material included, the reader will have to choose whether it's not worth spending the extra for a more comprehensive edition with expanded notes, glossary and supporting descriptions. ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (7)

Lives up to its name.
This is a very useful format for anyone reading Shakespeare, even those who are familiar with the text of a particular play.The book does not interpret, but merely presents the dialogue and stage instructions in modern English.An excellent tool for students and teachers alike.

Fear not the No Fear!
As one reviewer noted this 'translation' is suspect in some places

Though I might almost agree with that assessment (doesn't any translation have it's detractors?), at the same time the original text is right there for you to examine on your own, and these 'No Fear' editions simply are the BEST way to make Shakespeare accessible!I LOVED this book and can't recommend it enough - I went back and bought 'Midsummer Night's Dream' and can't wait to read it!

The Tempest
The No Fear Shakespeare edition of 'The Tempest' is a bastardization of the Shakespearian language and givesan erroneous idea of what W. Shakespeare actually meant. (The format is Shakespearian English on page one and 20th century english on page two.)I believe the No Fear version actually changes meaning of theoriginal several times.I would stayaway from this edition.
Linda Sheean

Sparknotes Rule!!
We are collecting as many Sparknotes as possible. When you are required to read Shakespeare, you must have a guide. It's that simple. There is no guide better, in our opinion as teachers, and students of literature.

Best Book Ever
The story line was a little silly; however, if this is a college requirment, then I highly recommend this book. It was so easy to read. ... Read more

Product Description
Shakespeare made accessible for young readers!

Come wend your way along London’s Thames River to the Globe Theatre, where seven favorite Shakespearean plays are being performed! Marcia Williams brings to life ROMEO AND JULIET, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, JULIUS CAESAR, HAMLET, MACBETH, THE WINTER'S TALE, and THE TEMPESTt, making liberal use of Shakespeare’s rich dialogue. With the help of her signature comic-strip style, the Bard’s 400-year-old masterworks become as relevant to young readers today as they were to theatergoers way back then. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

High/mixed
The pages are very, very busy.Perhaps too distracting for children.But they are beautifully illustrated and retain the original feel for the language.Best for 4th-6th grades.

Introduce your child to Shakespeare!
My eight-year old daughter and I delighted in reading these seven plays together!Marcia Williams has created a colorful, imaginative, fun way to present these wonderful plays so that the young reader gains an appreciation for Shakespeare's works and an insight into the historical period in which he presented them on stage.Each page contains whimsical illustrations, in strip style, wherein the characters speak lines from the plays, as well as a clearly written storyline.My daughter expecially chuckled over the humorous but often droll comments of scampering Globe audience memberas, framing the text of every page.You'll find Will himself is there, too!The events of the plays are not suger coated, though, so the tragedies do rack up a body count and the reader encounters the famous scenes of poisonings and revenge sought by the sword.

Great Book
I thought this was a great book.I love anything by Marcia Williams.The illustrations are great and there are hillarious comments from the audience throughout the book.This is a great book for kids to enjoy and they alsoget the basic story line of seven of Shakespeare's most poupular plays. Butmost of all this book is just fun.

Great book!
I really loved this book.It was really funny and I think it is a great book for all ages. The Illustrations were great.I recommend reading all of the books by Marcia Williams. I have only read three, Joseph and theMagnificent Coat of Many Colors, The Amazing story of Noah's ark and thisone, but we just ordered the one about Jonah and the whale.Buy it rightnow! You will love it!

Great book!
I really loved this book.It was really funny and I think it is a great book for all ages. The Illustrations were great.I recommend reading all of the books by Marcia Williams. I have only read three, Joseph and theMagnificent Coat of Many Colors, The Amazing story of Noah's ark and thisone, but we just ordered the one about Jonah and the whale.Buy it rightnow! You will love it! ... Read more

Product Description

These violent delights have violent ends
And in their triumph die, like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.

Customer Reviews (4)

A pair of star-cross'd lovers take their life
Two teenagers from rival families fall in love, marry secretly, and take their own lives rather than live without each other. Despite the teenage melodrama, "Romeo and Juliet" remains one of Shakespeare's most enduring and popular plays, even if it wasn't his best -- lots of death, teen lovers and enchanting dialogue.

In the city of Verona, the Montagues and Capulets are locked in a deadly feud. Then a Montague teen named Romeo, infatuated with a Capulet girl named Rosaline, sneaks into a party to see her.... but instead encounters another Capulet girl named Juliet, and the two immediately fall in love. Since their families hate each other, their love must be expressed in secret.

Hoping to unite the two families, the kindly priest Friar Lawrence assists the two in marrying in secret. But then Juliet's cousin Tybalt challenges Romeo to a duel, leading to the death of two men -- and Romeo's exile from Verona. Even worse, the Capulets have decided to marry Juliet to Count Paris -- leading to a desperate plan that goes horribly awry.

This edition also has Jacqueline Ritten's "Juliet's Story: A Retelling of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet," a rather nice if excessively "teenagerish" short story that tells of Juliet's memories and inner thoughts.

"Romeo and Juliet" is a play that is hard to pin down -- some see it as the poetry-laden embodiment of romantic love, while others view it as Shakespeare's witty jabs at fickle teenage infatuation and how melodramatic the kids are (Juliet is only thirteen!). But whatever you think it is, it's undeniable that it's a beautifully written, often-wrenching story.

Despite the simplicity of the story, Shakespeare spins it in a silken web of lush poetry ("O swear not by the moon, the inconstant moon/That monthly changes in her circled orb") and the famous speeches where Romeo and Juliet speak at night on a balcony. The mostly romantic play takes a dark turn towards the end, when only a few minutes might have changed the fates of "Juliet and her Romeo."

And Shakespeare seems rather fond of his characters here, depicting Romeo as a passionate young boy and Juliet as rather sweetly insecure young girl; there's also a fairly good cast of young men whose spirits are more elevated than their brains, and the kindly friar who rather naively hopes to use the kids to create peace.

But Shakespeare was also clearly aware that passionate teenage love is not necessarily the truest love ("Young men's love then lies/Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes"), and leaves you wondering what might have happened if Romeo and Juliet had lived.

Whether a gentle mockery of young love or a passionate, idealized romance, "Romeo and Juliet" is a timeless and lovely little play. Not the best of the Bard, but still quite good.

A Classic, What Else is there to Say.....
A Classic, What Else is there to Say.....a new cover, the old story with a new component. A story from Juliet written by Jacqueline Ritten.

A classic with new special features
The book is quite unique with the special features included in it. The new cover is also quite pretty. This play has a lot of cultural context for English speaking people; its often taught in school and as a result it has to be one of the most well known Shakespearen plays.

The character cast is quite diverse in this play. Two rivaling families and two lovers who should have never fallen in love due to their family ties. It's a fairly passionate play as Romeo and Juliet had to meet in secret because of the fact their families hated each other.

I think Shakespeare wrote the play to warn against teenage fatuation. Romeo and Juliet's fate could have been spared if they had just waited a long time. It's kind of sad.

Would You believe me if I said it was terrible?
This is a review of The original Romeo and Juliet, not this specific edition.

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. A book so rooted in popular culture that in all likelihood you knew the plot, the characters and the ending years before you picked it up, or if you were like me, were required to read it for educational reasons.

I wonder if I really know what I'm getting into by criticizing this book. In all likelihood I'm going to get a wave of negative comments because of what I'm about to say. To badmouth The Bard is almost to badmouth literature itself, and I don't want to do that.

Thomas Jefferson once said "I cannot live without books", If anything is true about me, it's that.

But thats the thing, technically, RAJ isn't a book, it's a PLAY. This means that it relies on those playing the parts of it's characters to provide any and all emotional depth, without whom it feels completely deadpan and flat. Maybe I'm wrong, as I've yet to see a live performance, and would be interested in seeing on. Without seeing one, Its hard to find what the characters were trying to get across to one-another when each one is trying to be poetic and overly dramatic. you really have to dig to find for example, the phrase "I love you" in a five minute monologue.

But this is just my opinion. Maybe I would have liked it if I hadn't been forced to read it in High school, if you do read of your own free will, judge it after you've finished it, not because of what the back cover says. ... Read more

Product Description
Visually engages readers by placing the original dialogue on the left-hand side of the page, and a modern prose interpretations on the right. As a result, it is easy for readers to cross reference as they move through the play and finally "get" Shakespeare. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

thank goodness!
Used as a study guide for my son who is a high school freshman.The original text may as well be in another language.The side by side made it easy to interpret while still reading the original.Went from D's to A's.

Suffer no moreth....
If your child needs to endure Shakespeare, this book is invaluable!No Fear Shakespeare is also great, I'm sure, but I picked this one, and my daughter loved it.Side by side, page by page, silliness and normal.You can't go wrong!Why wasn't this available when I was a kid????

Great book...for leisure reading or for school!
This book is great, it sets aside the difficulty that comes with reading Shakespear's Old English, and it especially great for school kids who have to read the book in class. They can translate the old english and it makes the words easier to understand. It literally has the Old English on one side and New English on the other! Great buy...Great Price! If you have to read Romeo and Juliet for school I recommend this book...if you want to read it simply for fun I still recommend it! ... Read more

Product Description
Hermia loves Lysander and Helena loves Demetrius, but the playful Puck uses a magic potion that makes the wrong men love the wrong women. Even Titania, the fairy queen, is made to fall in love with a workman with the head of a donkey! One of Shakespeare's most magical and best-loved comedies. In play format, ideal for group performance. ... Read more