William Shakespeare

Shakespeare's classic play explores the eternal themes of love and hate, mercy and justice, with parallel stories centred on the moneylender, Shylock, and the lovers, Portia and Bassanio. Shylock's angry insistence on the repayment of his debt from Bassanio ends in the Venetian courts where he demands his pound of flesh. Portia meanwhile, a wealthy young Venetian woman, must marry one of her many suitors. Her late father?s will has set the challenge...

Shakespeare?s famous tragedy, describing how a lust for power and the prophecy of three witches transform a brave nobleman into a traitor and murderous tyrant, has mesmerised audiences since its first performance over four centuries ago. Macbeth?s temptation and descent into evil, his wife?s ruthlessness and subsequent madness and the overarching presence of the supernatural are brilliantly evoked in this BBC Radio archive production from 2000, directed...

This edition of The Tempest provides a clear and authoritative text, edited to the highest standards of scholarship, and includes an in-depth survey of critical approaches to the play.

With its cross-dressed heroine, gender games and explorations of sexual ambivalence, 'As You Like It' speaks directly to the 21st century. This text includes detailed notes and commentary on Shakespeare's play, providing a full and comprehensive introduction to its historical and cultural contexts.

This edition of 'The Winter's Tale' provides a newly edited text, an introduction that takes into account current critical thinking, and a commentary on the play's language designed to make it easily accessible to contemporary readers.

When it seems that Julius Caesar may assume supreme power, a plot to destroy him is hatched by those determined to preserve the threatened republic. But the different motives of the conspirators soon become apparent when high principles clash with malice and political realism.

'The Oxford Shakespeare' series offers authoritative texts from leading scholars in editions designed to interpret and illuminate classic works for modern readers. A detailed introduction considers composition, sources, and critical and theatrical history.

In the acclaimed BBC Radio Shakespeare series, each play is introduced by Richard Eyre, former Director of the Royal National Theatre. Revitalised, original and comprehensive, this is Shakespeare for the new millennium. Antony and Cleopatra centres around the soldier and noble prince Mark Antony's enthralment with the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, and the tumultuous relationship which ensues and ultimately ends in tragedy. Frances Barber and David Harewood...