The most celebrated writer of all time, William Shakespeare's plays and poems have entered people's lives through every media: film, theater, song, and, of course, the plays themselves. In order to fully appreciate these centuries-old works, today's readers need a thorough and comprehensive guide that covers everything from All's Well that Ends Well to The Winter's Tale -- and every work in between.

Highlighting the well-known comedies and tragedies -- as well as historical plays, poems, and sonnets -- this informative book is the perfect reader's companion for any student or aficionado of the Bard. Each play is carefully detailed to include a full synopsis, along with reader's notes, character analysis, and comprehensive exercises.

Features:

-- Character analysis

-- Important themes and metaphors

-- Famous quotations from each play

-- Background information on Shakespeare's life and times

-- A comprehensive guide to current productions of Shakespearean works