William Shakespeare

A discussion of Shakespeare's life accompanies a collection of his sonnets and narrative poems, highlighted by critical notes and scholarly comments.

"Young Claudio has fallen for the lovely heiress Hero. The path to the altar seems smooth, until the evil Don John decides to intervene"--Container.

"Antonio promises money to help his friend Bassanio woo Portia. He borrows the sum needed from the cruel Shylock, but there will be a dreadful penalty if the loan is not repaid."--Container.

"Padua holds many suitors for the hand of fair Bianca, but Bianca may not be married until her spinster sister Kate is wed. Could any man be rash enough to take Kate on? The witty adventurer Petruchio undertakes the task. While he sets about transforming Kate from foul-tempered termagant to loving wife, young Lucentio and his clever servant Tranio plot to win Bianca. The result is a sparkling comedy of self-delusion and disguise, set in the context...

This play involves the separation, then reunion, of Egeon and Emelia (husband and wife); their twin sons, Antipholus of Ephesus (A.E.) and Antipholus of Syracuse (A.S.); and their twin servants, Dromio of Ephesus (D.E.) and Dromio of Syracuse (D.S.). The family is separated at sea during a storm, 33 years before the present. Egeon, A.S., and D.S. survive together and grow up in Syracuse. Seven years before the present, they decide to search, separately,...