The
Shakespeare Handbooks
provide a helpful, straightforward guide to the work of the world's most celebrated dramatist. Along with a clear, easy-to-follow description of the plot, each book contains plenty of quotations from the text - with simple explanations of any unfamiliar words and phrases - and some thought-provoking comments from critics, past and present. The
include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote
King Lear
? How do the white cliffs of Dover feature in the play? Who wrote a revised version of
with a happy ending - and what did audiences think of it? What is 'the excellent foppery of the world'? What does to 'stand the course' mean? And what did Ted Hughes, George Orwell and Germaine Greer think of the play? If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the
provide the perfect introduction. They're ideal for students, theatregoers - in fact, anyone curious to know more about the greatest plays in the English language. These are a few of the appreciative comments we've received about the
:
"Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench.
"Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh.
"The
open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.