William Shakespeare

Many of Shakespeare's quotations have become common parlance. Many people may not be aware of their source. This slim, beautifully-illustrated volume will delight all Shakespeare devotees and those not familiar with his work as they recognise common phrases and expressions. Dip in and out to remind you of some of his greatest lines and how he influenced the English language so greatly. Look out for more Pitkin Guides on the very best of British poetry, history, heritage and travel, particularly those in the Pitkin Collectibles Series.

All 154 Sonnets, with index to first lines.

Romeo and Juliet fall madly in love, despite being from two feuding families. They arrange to be secretly married, but a series of miscommunications results in the death of the two lovers, as well as some of their most beloved friends and relatives. Romeo and Juliet is the quintessential dramatic tragedy from a master of English literature.

Pericles, Prince of Tyre is a Jacobean play written at least in part by William Shakespeare and included in modern editions of his collected works despite questions over its authorship, as it was not included in the First Folio. Whilst various arguments support that Shakespeare is the sole author of the play (notably DelVecchio and Hammond's Cambridge edition of the play), modern editors generally agree that Shakespeare is responsible for almost exactly half the play-827 lines-the main portion after scene 9 that follows the story of Pericles and Marina. Modern textual studies indicate that the first two acts of 835 lines detailing the many voyages of Pericles were written by a mediocre collaborator, which strong evidence suggests to have been the victualler, pander, dramatist and pamphleteer George Wilkins. Pericles, the young Prince (ruler) of Tyre in Phoenicia (Lebanon), hears the riddle, and instantly understands its meaning: Antiochus is engaged in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. If he reveals this truth, he will be killed, but if he answers incorrectly, he will also be killed. Pericles hints that he knows the answer, and asks for more time to think. Antiochus grants him forty days, and then sends an assassin after him. However, Pericles has fled the city in disgust. Pericles returns to Tyre, where his trusted friend and counsellor Helicanus advises him to leave the city, for Antiochus surely will hunt him down. Pericles leaves Helicanus as regent and sails to Tarsus, a city beset by famine. The generous Pericles gives the governor of the city, Cleon, and his wife Dionyza, grain from his ship to save their people. The famine ends, and after being thanked profusely by Cleon and Dionyza, Pericles continues on. A storm wrecks Pericles' ship and washes him up on the shores of Pentapolis. He is rescued by a group of poor fishermen who inform him that Simonedes, King of Pentapolis, is holding a tournament the next day and that the winner will receive the hand of his daughter Thaisa in marriage. Fortunately, one of the fishermen drags Pericles' suit of armour on shore that very moment, and the prince decides to enter the tournament. Although his equipment is rusty, Pericles wins the tournament and the hand of Thaisa (who is deeply attracted to him) in marriage. Simonedes initially expresses doubt about the union, but soon comes to like Pericles and allows them to wed. A letter sent by the noblemen reaches Pericles in Pentapolis, who decides to return to Tyre with the pregnant Thaisa. Again, a storm arises while at sea, and Thaisa appears to die giving birth to her child, Marina. The sailors insist that Thaisa's body be set overboard in order to calm the storm. Pericles grudgingly agrees, and decides to stop at Tarsus because he fears that Marina may not survive the storm.

Shakespeare's tragedy of the star-crossed lovers. Classics Illustrated tells this wonderful tale in colorful comic strip form, providing an excellent introduction for younger readers. Also includes theme discussions and study questions.

Romeren Coriolanus har ført sin hær mot seier og blir hyllet som krigshelt. Men hans arroganse og forakt for massene bringer ham i unåde hos folket, og han anklages for forræderi. Drevet av stolthet og hevnlyst går han i tjeneste hos fienden, og setter dermed sin fremtid som leder og menneske på spill. Dette stykket ble sannsynligvis skrevet i 1608 og er Shakespeares siste tragedie.

This is the full play in quick modern English for a fast-paced read! 'But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun'! This title presents the tragic tale of doomed love, set in Verona, Italy, where the Montagues and the Capulets constantly feud and bring unrest to the city. So how could love possibly survive between this pair of star-crossed lovers, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet? Only Shakespeare could take such a romantic story and turn it into a soul-searching tragedy.

:König Lear9 und :Macbeth9 gehören zu den düstersten Tragödien William Shakespeares. Ob es um den verstoßenen König Lear geht, der orientierungslos auf der stürmischen Heide umherirrt, oder um einen grausamen Königsmörder wie Macbeth, der von den Gespenstern seines eigenen Gewissens verfolgt wird - beide Stücke handeln von abgründigen Charakteren inmitten einer aus den Fugen geratenen Welt. Nie wurde das Grauen so genial in Szene gesetzt wie hier.