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Unravel the history, themes, and language of Shakespeare's plays, poems, and sonnets with this beautifully illustrated guide to his life and works.
Comedy and romance, history, and tragedy, Shakespeare's canon has it all. Some 400 years after they were written and first performed, his works remain fresh and relevant today.
Shakespeare: His Life and Works is an accessible and lavishly illustrated celebration of the Bard himself and his 39 plays, great sonnets, and narrative poems. Themes, plots, characters, and language are brought to life with act-by-act plot summaries, resumes of main characters, and in-depth analysis of Shakespeare's use of, and influence on, the English language. Entries also explore Shakespeare's plays, poems, and sonnets in the context of his life and the world of Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre and reveal his sources and inspirations, further enriching your experience of his work, be it on the page, stage, or screen.
Shakespeare: His Life and Works is the perfect gift for current Shakespeare fans, and anyone looking to find out more about the work of the world's most celebrated playwright.
About the author
Leslie Dunton-Downer received a PhD with Distinction in comparative literature from Harvard. She has served as a lecturer at her alma mater, and is a trustee of the Harvard Advocate and a member of the Society of Fellows. She was a 2014 fellow at the American Academy in Berlin. She is the coauthor, with Alan Riding, of DK’s
Essential Shakespeare Handbook and
Eyewitness Companions: Opera, and the author of
The English Is Coming!: How One Language Is Sweeping the World.
For 12 years,
Alan Riding was the European cultural correspondent for the
New York Times. He was previously bureau chief for the
Times in Paris, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, and Mexico City. Riding is the author of
And the Show Went On and
Distant Neighbors: A Portrait of the Mexicans. He lives in Paris with his wife, Marlise Simons, a writer for the
Times.
Summary
A comprehensive collection of the life and works of a literary great — William Shakespeare!
The beautifully illustrated guide unravels the life and works of Shakespeare and his plays, from language, history, and themes to plays, poems, and sonnets. Explore the art of this famous playwright and his enduring legacy through the stunning gift format.
Celebrate one of the theaters most influential contributors through his legendary works of comedy, tragedy, romance, and poetry. Inside this playbook, you’ll find:
• A clear and accessible format.
• Plot summaries of all 39 plays with lists of characters.
• Guidance on how to read and interpret his great sonnets and narrative poems.
• Plays ordered by time and genre, helping readers trace the development of Shakespeare’s topics, themes, and artistry.
• Sidebars that clarify the mythological, geographical and historical context of each play and decode its language, dramatic action, and themes.
• Illuminated guidance on how to approach reading the play and seeing it perform.
Shakespeare fans will revel in the marvelous depiction of the Stratford-upon-Avon born Bard himself! His drama book allows you to dive into famous works like Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and explore Shakespeare’s sources and inspirations for each! Themes, plots, characters, and language are brought to life with act-by-act plot summaries, resumes of main characters, and in-depth analysis of Shakespeare’s use of the English language.
Shakespeare: His Life and Works is a wonderful exploration of plays, poems, and sonnets in the context of his life and the Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre, further enriching your on the page (or stage, or screen!) experience.
