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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote As You Like It? Which character is he thought to have played in his own comedy? Where is the Forest of Arden? What – and when – is ‘the only pretty ring-time’? And who is the stranger carrying a bloodstained handkerchief?   If you’re apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks: “Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare’s works” – Dame Judi Dench. “Very readable, very helpful” – Kenneth Branagh. “The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader – everybody will get something from them.” – Simon Callow.

A Guide to As You Like It (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

Literature & Fiction

McCallum, Alistair

Dramas & Plays

Upstart Crow Publications

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote Twelfth Night? Where did he get the name of the play’s central character, Orsino? Which topics are mentioned more frequently in this play than in any other by Shakespeare? What is an ‘ordinary fool’? And why was Twelfth Night not published during Shakespeare’s lifetime?   If you’re apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks: “Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare’s works” – Dame Judi Dench. “Very readable, very helpful” – Kenneth Branagh. “The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader – everybody will get something from them.” – Simon Callow.

A Guide to Twelfth Night (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote Macbeth? Why did the play appeal so strongly to the King? How does the Gunpowder Plot come into the play? And why is bear-baiting mentioned? Which word is used more frequently in Macbeth than in any other play by Shakespeare? What did Laurence Olivier think of the play? And Giuseppe Verdi? And W. H. Auden?   If you’re apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks:  “Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare’s works” – Dame Judi Dench.  “Very readable, very helpful” – Kenneth Branagh.  “The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader – everybody will get something from them.” – Simon Callow.

A Guide to Macbeth (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote Henry IV, Part 1? Why is King Henry described as 'cankered'? What was the 'Tudor myth', and did Shakespeare subscribe to it? In real life, what injury did King Henry's son sustain in battle? According to Germaine Greer, why might the original audience have jeered angrily at Falstaff as well as laughing at him? And what is a 'leaping-house'? And a 'jordan'? If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks "Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench. "Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh. "The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.

A Guide to Henry IV, Part 1 (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote Hamlet? As an actor, which character did he probably play in the tragedy? Why do we all know the phrase ‘Alas, poor Yorick?’ What did Freud – and D.H. Lawrence – think about the play’s central character? Who called the play ‘vulgar and barbarous’? And who was Katherine Hamlet?   If you’re apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks: “Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare’s works” – Dame Judi Dench. “Very readable, very helpful” – Kenneth Branagh. “The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader – everybody will get something from them.” – Simon Callow.

A Guide to Hamlet (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote The Tempest? What did his friend and rival Ben Jonson think of the play? Why is Bermuda mentioned in it? Which everyday expressions were first coined in The Tempest? Which famous science fiction movie did it inspire? And what is a ‘wezand’? And a ‘doit’?   If you’re apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks: “Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare’s works” – Dame Judi Dench. “Very readable, very helpful” – Kenneth Branagh. “The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader – everybody will get something from them.” – Simon Callow.

A Guide to The Tempest (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

History & Criticism

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream? How did he smuggle in a subtle compliment to Queen Elizabeth I - and a gentle put-down to one of his critics? What did Samuel Pepys think of the play? Which topics are mentioned more frequently in this play than in any other by Shakespeare? And which piece of music inspired by A Midsummer Night's Dream is played week in and week out all over the world?If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks:"Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench. "Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh. "The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.

A Guide to A Midsummer Night's Dream (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote Julius Caesar? Why was it such an important milestone in his career? How does the play reflect the political anxiety and censorship of the time? Who directed a version of the play in 1937 in which Caesar bore a strong resemblance to Mussolini? Which lines from the play most impressed Nelson Mandela during his years of imprisonment? Why is bear-baiting mentioned in the play? And which was 'the most unkindest cut of all'? If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks "Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench. "Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh. "The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.

A Guide to Julius Caesar (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote The Merchant of Venice? What was his reputation like at the time? What influenced him in creating the character of the moneylender Shylock? How did the Elizabethans feel about the subject of moneylending - and how did the issue affect Shakespeare personally? Money apart, which topic is mentioned more frequently in The Merchant of Venice than in any other play by Shakespeare? Why was Laurence Olivier's performance as Shylock particularly memorable? What is a 'fawning publican'? And why does a light wife make a heavy husband? If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks "Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench. "Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh." The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.

A Guide to The Merchant of Venice (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

Education & Teaching

Studying & Workbooks

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 Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote The Winter's Tale? What is the significance of the play's title? Why did Shakespeare's rival Ben Jonson object to The Winter's Tale and its success? Which is the 'bawdy planet'? What is a 'fardel'? What does it mean to be 'unbreeched'? And which stage direction in The Winter's Tale is possibly the most famous in the whole of Shakespeare? If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks 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 Shakespeare Handbooks: "Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench. "Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh. "The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.

A Guide to The Winter's Tale (The Shakespeare Handbooks)

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