Bøker av William Shakespeare

"Engaging with the racial malice at the heart of the play, this translation of this complicated story emphasizes the rhythm and lyrical patterns of Othello's speech, opening up the text to modern ears"--

Shakespeare's sonnets are amongst the most admired, complex and beautiful poems ever written. This gorgeous new collection includes sonnets from Romeo and Juliet, Henry V and Love's Labour's Lost, to create a comprehensive collection from the greatest writer of the English poetic form.

Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately reconcile their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and along with Hamlet, is one of his most frequently performed plays. Today, the title characters are regarded as archetypal young lovers. Romeo and Juliet belongs to a tradition of tragic romances stretching back to antiquity. The plot is based on an Italian tale translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke in 1562 and retold in prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter in 1567. Shakespeare borrowed heavily from both but expanded the plot by developing a number of supporting characters, particularly Mercutio and Paris. Believed to have been written between 1591 and 1595, the play was first published in a quarto version in 1597.

Much Ado About Nothing is a comedy by William Shakespeare thought to have been written in 1598 and 1599. The play was included in the First Folio, published in 1623. The play is set in Messina and revolves around two romantic pairings that emerge when a group of soldiers arrive in the town. The first, between Claudio and Hero, is nearly altered by the accusations of the villain, Don John. The second romance, between Claudio''s friend Benedick and Hero''s cousin Beatrice, takes center stage as the play goes on, with both characters'' wit and banter providing much of the humor.

A Midsummer Night''s Dream is a comedy written by William Shakespeare c. 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict among four Athenian lovers. Another follows a group of six amateur actors rehearsing the play which they are to perform before the wedding. Both groups find themselves in a forest inhabited by fairies who manipulate the humans and are engaged in their own domestic intrigue. The play is one of Shakespeare''s most popular and is widely performed.

The Merchant of Venice is a 16th-century play written by William Shakespeare in which a merchant in Venice named Antonio defaults on a large loan provided by a Jewish moneylender, Shylock. It is believed to have been written between 1596 and 1599. Although classified as a comedy in the First Folio and sharing certain aspects with Shakespeare''s other romantic comedies, the play is most remembered for its dramatic scenes, and it is best known for Shylock and his famous "Hath not a Jew eyes?" speech on humanity. Also notable is Portia''s speech about "the quality of mercy".

Shakespeare''s sonnets are poems written by William Shakespeare on a variety of themes. When discussing or referring to Shakespeare''s sonnets, it is almost always a reference to the 154 sonnets that were first published all together in a quarto in 1609. However, there are six additional sonnets that Shakespeare wrote and included in the plays Romeo and Juliet, Henry V and Love''s Labour''s Lost. There is also a partial sonnet found in the play Edward III.

The plays of Shakespeare have been recently added to our Arcturus Classics series, featuring striking contemporary cover designs.

One of most Shakespeare''s most enduringly popular and most often staged works.

The plays of Shakespeare have been recently added to our Arcturus Classics series, featuring striking contemporary cover designs.

Designed for "teaching the conflicts," this critical edition of Shakespeare's "The Tempest" reprints the authoritative Bevington text of the play along with 21 selections representing major critical and cultural controversies surrounding the work. The distinctive editorial material helps readers grapple not only with the play's critical issues but also with cultural debates about literature itself. The second edition includes four new readings, revised headnotes that more helpfully contextualize the critical essays, a portfolio of visual representations of Caliban, and an appendix on writing about critical controversies and "The Tempest."

The ships carrying the King of Naples and his entourage are caught up in a violent storm. Plunged into the turbulent sea, they arrive separately on the same nearby island. Not only do they believe that the others have perished, they are also unaware that the storm was intentional.