Special Collections
Wonderful William Shakespeare
Description: All his literature in all its many versions!
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Oxford School Shakespeare
by William Shakespeare and Roma GillOxford School Shakespeare is an acclaimed edition especially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes and explanatory illustrations, clear background information, and rigorous but accessible scholarly credentials. In this edition of Othello, illustrations have been extended andupdated; the preliminary notes have been expanded; reading lists have been updated, and include websites; and the classroom notes have been brought in line with recent practice. Othello is a set text for 11-14 year olds in England and remains one of the most accessible and popular of Shakespeare'splays for secondary students the world over.
Oxford School Shakespeare
by Roma Gill and William ShakespeareOxford School Shakespeare is an acclaimed edition especially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes and explanatory illustrations, clear background information, and rigorous but accessible scholarly credentials. Julius Caesar is a popular text for study by secondary students the world over. This edition includes illustrations, preliminary notes, reading lists (including websites) and classroom notes.
Oxford School Shakespeare
by Roma Gill and William Shakespeare'Much Ado About Nothing' is one of Shakespeare's greatest love stories and a comic tour de force. Exploring the eternal themes of love, jealousy and honour, it focuses on two pairs of very different lovers and their trials and tribulations en route to the altar. Claudio and Hero are in love and soon to be married. As they await the wedding, they decide to play a trick on their friends Beatrice and Benedick, two confirmed singletons who scorn marriage and enjoy nothing more than expressing their mutual disdain. Can they persuade Benedick that Beatrice is in love with him - and vice versa? Meanwhile, the evil Don Pedro plots to destroy Claudio and Hero's love.
Oxford School Shakespeare
by William Shakespeare and Roma GillOxford School Shakespeare is an acclaimed edition especially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes and explanatory illustrations, clear background information, and rigorous but accessible scholarly credentials. King Lear is a popular text for study by secondary students theworld over. This edition includes illustrations, preliminary notes, reading lists and classroom notes.
Pericles (PDF)
by William Shakespeare and Suzanne GossettSuzanne Gossett offers a full and critical performance history, with an introduction showing how the play's performance history has paralled the criticism. It then gives an interpretation of this two-generation romance, with its successive male and female central characters, based on a reading 'through the family', and influenced by the feminist and new historicist criticism of the last two decades. The edition integrates cumulative research on Shakespeare's collaborative authorship and the transmission of the text without rewriting the play or ignoring years of emendations.
King Henry V
by Andrew Gurr and William ShakespeareFor this updated edition of Shakespeare's most celebrated war play, Professor Gurr has added a new section to his introduction which considers recent critical and stage interpretations, especially concentrating on the 'secret' versus 'official' readings of the play. An updated reading list completes the edition. For this updated edition of Shakespeare's most celebrated war play, Professor Gurr has added a new section to his introduction which considers recent critical and stage interpretations, especially concentrating on the 'secret' versus 'official' readings of the play. He analyses the play's double vision of Henry as both military hero and self-seeking individual. Professor Gurr shows how the patriotic declarations of the Chorus are contradicted by the play's action. The play's more controversial sequences are placed in the context of Elizabethan thought, in particular the studies of the laws and morality of war written in the years before Henry V. Also studied is the exceptional variety of language and dialect in the play. The appendices provide a comprehensive collection of source materials, while the stage history shows how subsequent centuries have received and adapted the play on the stage and in film. An updated reading list completes the edition.
The Comedy of Errors
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenThe Comedy of Errors is a brilliant piece of theatrical mechanism, a story of mounting confusion involving two pairs of twins. But it also explores the relations between lovers and between husband and wife, and ends with the warmth and reconciliation of a multiple family reunion.
Henry V
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenHenry V dramatizes the legend of the heroic warrior-king who won the battle of Agincourt; but it also tells the more human story of a young king’s psychological journey, learning to deal with the political realities of Church and State. As increasing numbers of British servicemen and women are seeing active service, Propeller brings its own unique take on one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenOne of Shakespeare’s most original and eloquent plays, A Midsummer Night’s Dream brilliantly interweaves four contrasting groups of characters to present a many-sided view of love in all its aspects: its joys and sadness, its idealism and selfishness, its physical and spiritual elements. This performing edition was prepared for Propeller’s all-male company of twelve actors, at the Watermill Theatre, Newbury, and toured the West End in 2003. Propeller’s markedly contemporary approach to Shakespeare brought great success for Rose Rage, their version of the Henry VI plays, whichwon the TMA/Barclays Theatre Award for the best touring production of 2001.
Richard III
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenRichard III brings the Wars of the Roses cycle of history plays to a close in bloody fashion. Arguably Shakespeare’s most villainous king, we watch in horror and delight as Richard murders his way to the throne, unable to resist his cruel wit and dark humour. This is a hugely entertaining and diabolical adventure that tells the story of one man’s journey to heaven, then back to hell.
The Taming of the Shrew
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenIn The Taming Of The Shrew two, disguised,competing suitors clamour for the hand ofbeautiful Bianca whilst gold-digging Petruchioagrees to wed her viciously ill-tempered sisterKate sight-unseen. The difference betweenmarrying for love and marrying for money,however, becomes increasingly diffi cult tojudge. This brash, brutal and darkly comic storypulls no punches.
Twelfth Night
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenTwelfth Night tells a twisted tale of mistaken identity, transformation and deception. With a man playing a girl disguised as a boy, illusion and reality are almost indistinguishable on Propeller’s island of Illyria. Dark and delightful, the play questions what happens when you fall in love with the wrong person, and the answer is both beautiful and bittersweet.
The Winter's Tale
by William Shakespeare and Edward Hall and Roger WarrenThe Winter’s Tale takes us on an extraordinary journey. King Leontes falls prey to an inexplicable jealousy of his wife Hermione; it causes her (apparent) death and the (actual) death of his young son Mamillius. Sixteen years of repentance, supervised by Paulina, lead to scenes of reunion and reconciliation — but without concealing the cost in human terms. This is a slightly shortened version of the text of The Winter’s Tale as printed in the First Folio of Shakespeare’s works (1623). The opening sequence, divided between various voices, and the first half of Scene Twelve, draw upon, and re-shape, the more extended versions of the original.
Macbeth
by William Shakespeare and Carl HeapWhat's done cannot be undone' Three weird sisters, an eerie prophecy and a lust for power start a spiral of betrayal which has disastrous consequences. Primary Classics, produced by the National Theatre's Discover programme, aims to introduce children aged 7 to 11 to Shakespeare. This version of Macbeth, adapted and originally directed by Carl Heap, preserves the core of Shakespeare's plot, retains the original langauge, yet is presented very much with the target age group in mind. Carl Heap's introduction will help readers, teachers and practitioners alike to imagine or produce their own version.
A Midsummer Night's Dream
by William Shakespeare and Carl Heap"...in the night, imagining some fear, How easy is a bush supposed a bear!"With all the dark undercurrents of the traditional fairytale, Shakespeare weaves farce, slapstick, romance and revelry to create what is perhaps his most joyous play. Primary Classics, produced by the National Theatre's Discover programme, aims to introduce children aged 7 to 11 to Shakespeare. This version of A Midsummer Night's Dream, adapted and originally directed by Carl Heap, preserves the core of Shakespeare's plot, retains the original langauge, yet is presented very much with the target age group in mind. Carl Heap's introduction will help readers, teachers and practitioners alike to imagine or produce their own version.
Pericles
by William Shakespeare and Carl HeapAdapted for The National Theatre by Carl Heap 'The world to me is like a lasting storm' An exciting tale of shipwrecks and magic, villains and heroes, and a child's fight for survival in a foreign land. Join Pericles on his epic travels of adventure and discovery. Primary Classics, produced by the National Theatre's Discover programme, aims to introduce children aged 7 to 11 to Shakespeare. This version of Pericles, adapted and originally directed by Carl Heap, preserves the core of Shakespeare's plot, retains the original langauge, yet is presented very much with the target age group in mind. Carl Heap's introduction will help readers, teachers and practitioners alike to imagine or produce their own version.
Romeo and Juliet
by William Shakespeare and Carl HeapAdapted for The National Theatre by Carl Heap 'The day is hot, the capulets abroad, And, if we meet, we shall not scape a brawl; For now, these hot days, is the mad blood stirring.'What's in a name? Imagine being born into the wrong family in the wrong place at the wrong time; and then you meet your true love... Primary Classics, produced by the National Theatre's Discover programme, aims to introduce children aged 7 to 11 to Shakespeare. This version of Romeo and Juliet, adapted and originally directed by Carl Heap, preserves the core of Shakespeare's plot, retains the original langauge, yet is presented very much with the target age group in mind. Carl Heap's introduction will help readers, teachers and practitioners alike to imagine or produce their own version.
Romeo and Juliet (The Players' Shakespeare) (PDF)
by Walter J H and William ShakespeareThis series presents hardback editions of Shakespeare's plays for use in schools. The text is supported by detailed notes and is suitable for GCSE and A level.
Shorter Shakespeare
by Tracy Irish and William ShakespeareMagic, buffoonery, confusion, transformation - all the elements of this marvellous play are shown to students through brilliant production photographs and a modern narration. Colour photographs from a variety of productions show the pandemonium created by the dispute between the fairy king and queen and Puck's interference in the mortal world. Bottom's transformation, the lovers' confused pursuit through the woods and the power attributed to a fairy or spirit become much clearer when students can see how others have visualised them. Two modern narrators provide background information, guide students and clarify events. Their dialogue (clearly marked in the text as not being part of Shakespeare's play) explains, where necessary, things that would not be immediately obvious to present day students - such as Puck's reputation for mischief. They summarise the action and prepare students for what is going to happen, guiding them through the twists and turns of the plot and supporting their understanding of the original text.
Shakespeare Complete Works (PDF)
by William Shakespeare and Ann Thompson and David Scott Kastan and Richard ProudfootThis revised edition of the Arden Shakespeare Complete Works includes the full text of Double Falsehood, which was published in the Arden Third series to critical acclaim in 2010. The play is an eighteenth century rewrite of Shakespeare's "lost" play Cardenio and as such is a fascinating testament to the original. A short introduction outlines its complex textual history and the arguments for including it within the Shakespeare canon. The Complete Works contains the texts of all Shakespeare's plays, poems and sonnets, edited by leading Shakespeare scholars for the renowned Arden series. A general introduction gives the reader an overall view of how and why Shakespeare has become such an influential cultural icon, and how perceptions of his work have changed in the intervening four centuries. The introduction summarises the known facts about the dramatist's life, his reading and use of sources, and the nature of theatrical performance during his lifetime. Brief introductions to each play, written specially for this volume by the Arden General Editors, discuss the date and contemporary context of the play, its position within Shakespeare's oeuvre, and its subsequent performance history. An extensive glossary explains vocabulary which may be unfamiliar to modern readers.
York Notes for AS and A2
by Alasdair Macrae and William ShakespeareYork Notes for AS amp; A2 have been specifically designed to help AS and A2 students to get the very best grade possible. They are comprehensive, easy to use, packed with valuable features and written by experienced examiners and teachers to give you an expert understanding of the text, critical approaches and the all-important exam.
Macbeth (Shakespeare Stories) (PDF)
by Andrew Matthews and William ShakespeareThis series gives young readers the chance to discover Shakespeare for themselves. The stories come originally from the highly successful gift collection The Orchard Book of Shakespeare Stories. Also included are useful notes on the themes within the stories and a background to the Globe theatre.
Romeo and Juliet (Orchard Shakespeare Stories) (PDF)
by Andrew Matthews and William ShakespeareThis series gives young readers the chance to discover Shakespeare for themselves. The stories come originally from the highly successful gift collection The Orchard Book of Shakespeare Stories. Also included are useful notes on the themes within the stories and a background to the Globe theatre. Andrew Matthews's vibrant and accessible retellings, coupled with expressive and funny illustrations by Tony Ross, provide an introduction to this important part of our cultural heritage in the most enjoyable way. Perfect for school use as the National Curriculum specifies that two Shakespeare stories are studied as part of English Literary Heritage KS3 and 4. Also optional at KS2. The notes highlighting themes in the specific stories will help to focus discussions.
King Henry VIII (PDF)
by Gordon Mcmullan and William ShakespeareKing Henry VIII has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a new perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play, revealing it as a complex meditation on the progress of Reformation which sees English life since Henry VIII's day as a series of bewildering changes in national and personal allegiance and represents 'history' as the product of varied and contradictory testimony. McMullan makes a powerful claim for the rehabilitation of Henry VIII, providing the fullest performance history of any edition to date and reading the work not as a marginal 'late' Shakespeare play but as a play which is paradigmatic of the achievement of Renaissance drama as a whole.
Livewire Shakespeare
by Marilyn Pettit and Philip Page and William ShakespeareThese highly illustrated books provide lower ability pupils or pupils with special educational needs access to the true text of Shakespeare's plays