Classic Plays

Shakespeare, Our Contemporary is a provocative, original study of the major plays of Shakespeare. More than that, it is one of the few critical works to have strongly influenced theatrical productions.

All children love traditional rhymes. Popular rhymes make Books with Holes a must for every child. Download this audiobook version now!

This collection contains Oscar Wilde's four best-known comedies: The Importance of Being Earnest; Lady Windermere's Fan; An Ideal Husband; and A Woman of No Importance. All of them satirize upper-class English society of the 1890s, dramatizing scandalous secrets, political and marital intrigue, and dandyish bad behavior with Wilde's trademark wit and wisdom.

This collection of letters and excerpts from Mr. Dickens' novels, edited by Mr. Woollcott, shows us how infatuated the author was with the theater. His correspondences with Macready and Forster are brimming with reviews (both good and bad) of plays that the author attended. Mr. Woollcott also included theater-related excerpts from David Copperfield, Great Expectations, and, of course, Nicholas Nickleby. A delight for lovers of Dickens and of the stage!

The story revolves around its two central characters: Othello, a Moorish general in the Venetian army, and his unfaithful ensign, Iago. This is one of the most prolific Shakespeare works, featuring themes of passion, jealousy, love, betrayal, revenge and repentance. This edition of Othello is an adaptation of Shakespeare's eponymous drama, narrated in plain modern English, capturing the very essence and key elements of the original Shakespeare work. Read in English, unabridged.

Macbeth, a general of the army of Duncan, King of Scotland, rises through the ranks after victory over the rebel MacDonald. Inspired by three witches' prediction that he would become king, he and his wife murder Duncan, and he becomes King of Scotland himself. The heir, Malcolm, flees to England, where he is joined by Macduff, the loyal Thane of Fife.

Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero's cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrice’s love defending her cousin’s honour, and to his surprise, Claudio is reunited with Hero, who he believed dead.

Ignoring the opportunity to own a comprehensive guide to one of the world's most creative literary minds would be an Elizabethan tragedy of modern proportions. Elevating your intellect to become a Shakespeare connoisseur has never been easier or this much fun with The Great American Bathroom Book Shakespeare edition!

The 1590s were bleak years for England. The queen was old, the succession unclear, and the treasury empty after decades of war. Amid the rising tension, William Shakespeare published a pair of poems dedicated to the young Earl of Southampton: Venus and Adonis in 1593 and The Rape of Lucrece a year later. Although wildly popular during Shakespeare's lifetime, to modern readers both works are almost impenetrable. But in her enthralling new book, the Shakespearean scholar Clare Asquith reveals their hidden contents.

Unique to this title is: a historical introduction, an overview, a study of themes, and a list of famous quotes. You may of course skip all of it and go straight to the main title if you do not want any spoilers and come back later to the beginning. William Shakespeare, the 16th-century English poet, playwright, and actor, is generally regarded as the best writer in the English language and the world's best dramatist.

The premier Russian dramatist before Chekov, Alexander Ostrovsky was one of the first masters of realistic theatre. A typical example of his approach to drama, A Protégée of the Mistress is almost cinematic in its presentation. The action is represented by a series of vivid snapshots, in which Ostrovsky quickly and subtly illustrates the foibles and weaknesses of each character, and shows how they are forced into a hostile dependence on each other.

The Life and Death of King John, a history play by William Shakespeare, dramatizes the reign of King John of England (ruled 1199 - 1216), son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine and father of Henry III of England. It is believed to have been written in the mid-1590s but was not published until it appeared in the First Folio in 1623. Performed by The Marlowe Society.

Sir Michael Morpurgo retells two of Shakespeare’s best-loved plays, Romeo and Juliet and A Midsummer’s Night Dream, in this stunning audio collection in association with the RSC, featuring readings by members of the Royal Shakespeare Company and Michael himself. Translating these iconic plays into thrilling prose, the nation’s favourite storyteller preserves all the imaginative genius and spark of the originals, while bringing a contemporary and vibrant voice to their retelling.

Laughter, happiness, romance, and just a bit of deception and intrigue - these are what make up Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies. Though Shakespeare is probably most well-known for the dramatic tragedies that have defined the genre for centuries, his comedies are just as well beloved and performed in theaters across the globe. Shakespearean comedies are defined by their humorous writing, their satire, the often-tangled romances, disguises and deceptions, and a thoughtful “fool” who is often the bearer of the smartest lines in the plays.

Pohishhennyj, ili Prikljuchenija Djevida Bjelfura, v kotoryh rasskazyvaetsja o tom, kak on byl pohishhen i popal v korablekrushenie, kak tomilsja na neobitaemom ostrove i skitalsja v dikih gorah, kak sud'ba svela ego s Alanom Brekom Stjuartom i drugimi jarymi shotlandskimi jakobitami, a takzhe obo vsem, chto on preterpel ot ruk svoego djadi Jebenezera Bjelfura, imenuemogo vladel'cem zamka Shos bez vsjakogo na to prava, opisannye im samim i predlagaemye nyne vashemu vnimaniju Robertom Luisom Stivensonom.

In her classic book, The Game of Life and How to Play It, author Florence Scovel Shinn shows how we receive back what we put into the world through our actions, energy, and attitudes. In The Secret Door to Success, Shinn combines her usual practical wisdom with spiritual truths, offering listeners a roadmap to overcome challenges, manifest their desires, and embrace a life of purpose.

Mark Antony, one of three rulers of Rome, is in love with Cleopatra, queen of Egypt. Antony is summoned back to Rome, where he clashes with another ruler, Octavius, before returning to Cleopatra in Egypt. Now in battle with Octavius, Antony and Cleopatra suffer losses and miscommunication and both eventually commit suicide.

The first volume of David Timson's series retelling of the stories from Shakespeare's plays was widely praised by newspaper and educators alike. Here is volume 2, with more key plays. Including Julius Caesar, The Merchant of Venice, and Henry IV, all texts which regularly appear on the exam syllabus. As before, the stories are illustrated by numerous examples from the plays themselves. They are read by two leading Shakespearean actors, Juliet Stevenson and Alex Jennings.

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. His father, John Shakespeare, was a store owner and a farmer, and at one point, also served as the town's mayor. William was the third of eight children. He was married to Anne Hathaway who was eight years older than himself. They had three children Susanna (1583), and twins - Hamnet and Judith (1585). Shakespeare wrote 36 plays, 154 Sonnets and two narrative poems. He died on April 23, 1616 and was buried at Trinity Church in Stratford, England.

Shakespeare se tornou o dramaturgo mais conhecido de todos os tempos por várias razões: era genial com as palavras, entendia a alma humana como ninguém e falava de temas universais. No entanto, parte de sua popularidade se deve aos irmãos Charles e Mary Lamb, que, ao adaptarem vinte peças para o formato de conto, tornaram as histórias do autor inglês acessíveis a pessoas de diferentes idades e gêneros, em diversas partes do mundo. Publicados em 1807, os contos dos Lamb eram destinados apenas ao público infantojuvenil e jovens senhoras....