Best Selling Books by William Shakespeare

A second edition of Measure for Measure, featuring a new introductory section by Angela Stock.

A major new edition of Shakespeare''s tragedy arguing that the play is ultimately Juliet''s. The illustrated introduction discusses the play''s stage and screen history, its language and the many critical issues surrounding it.It gives a comprehensive, penetrating introduction to the play.On-page notes to deepen understanding.

This new edition of one of Shakespeare''s best-loved plays, developed by and for the Royal Shakespeare Company, features a Foreword by comedian, writer and actor Marc Wootton, who played Bottom in the 2011 RSC production. Its easily accessible layout and elegant design make it the ideal gift for any special occasion.

Sir Toby Belch and his companion outwit the pretentious Malvolio, who despite suffering their most outrageous and insulting practical jokes, emerges as an almost noble figure.

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1603, and based on the short story Un Capitano Moro ("A Moorish Captain") by Cinthio, a disciple of Boccaccio, first published in 1565. The work revolves around four central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army; his beloved wife, Desdemona; his loyal lieutenant, Cassio; and his trusted but unfaithful ensign, Iago. Because of its varied and current themes of racism, love, jealousy, betrayal, revenge and repentance, Othello is still often performed in professional and community theatres alike and has been the basis for numerous operatic, film, and literary adaptations. Arguably the greatest English-language playwright, William Shakespeare was a seventeenth-century writer and dramatist, and is known as the Bard of Avon. Under the patronage of Queen Elizabeth I, he penned more than 30 plays, 154 sonnets, and numerous narrative poems and

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare''s tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV (two plays, including Henry IV, Part 2), and Henry V. Henry IV, Part 1 depicts a span of history that begins with Hotspur''s battle at Homildon in Northumberland against the Douglas late in 1402, and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403. From the start it has been an extremely popular play both with the public and critics.

Richard III belongs to Shakespeare''s folio of King Richard plays, and is the longest of his plays after Hamlet. It is classified variously as a tragedy and a history, showing the reign of Richard III in an unflattering light. The play''s length springs in part from its reference to the other Richard plays, with which Shakespeare assumed his audience would be familiar. These references and characters are often edited out to create an abridged version when the play is performed for modern audiences.

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 Barbara A. Mowat 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.

King John had a distinguished life on the eighteenth- and nineteenth-century stage, and this edition presents the fullest account of its stage history. The play''s political importance, its rich and varied language, and its skillful design suggest that King John deserves a high place among Shakespeare''s historical tragedies. The textual analysis includes examination of several disputed emendations to the text. In the appendix, Beaurline surveys the arguments about the dating of Shakespeare''s King John and the anonymous Troublesome Reign of King John, presenting new evidence for the possibility that Shakespeare''s play was written first.