Ralph Waldo Emerson was a key figure of the American Renaissance of the mid-19th century. His essay "Nature" is considered one of the most influential works in American history, and he inspired the likes of Whitman, Thoreau, and Dickinson.

Noted for their witty depictions of English country life and sharply satirical views of class structure and human behavior, 19th-century novelist Jane Austen's works, which include such classics as Emma and Pride and Prejudice, possess a timeless appeal for both general readers and literary scholars.

Deeply influenced by his Puritan heritage, Nathaniel Hawthorne is the author of the classic novels The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. He also wrote brilliant short stories, which include such tales as "Young Goodman Brown" and "The Minister's Black Veil."

Fourteenth-century author, poet, and civil servant Geoffrey Chaucer has delighted readers through the ages with his colorful tales filled with humanity, grace, and strength. He is best known for The Canterbury Tales, a vibrant account of life in England during his own day.

Each title features:
- A selection of the best criticism on the play through the centuries
- Introductory essays on the development of criticism on the play in each century
- A brief biography of Shakespeare
- A plot synopsis, list of characters, and analysis of several key passages
- An introduction by Harold Bloom.

Each title features:
- A selection of the best criticism on the play through the centuries
- Introductory essays on the development of criticism on the play in each century
- A brief biography of Shakespeare
- A plot synopsis, list of characters, and analysis of several key passages
- An introduction by Harold Bloom.

From Harold Bloom's now-canonical book "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human" come the individual meditations on Shakespeare's comedies, tragedies, and historical plays.
Each edition in the Harold Bloom Shakespeare Series will include the full text of the play, with editorial revisions by Harold Bloom.
Harold Bloom on "As You Like It":
""As much set in an earthly realm of possible good as "King Lear" and "Macbeth" are set in earthly hells. And of all of Shakespeare's comic heroines, Rosalind is the most gifted, as remarkable in her mode as Falstaff and Hamlet are in...

Each title features:
- A selection of the best criticism on the play through the centuries
- Introductory essays on the development of criticism on the play in each century
- A brief biography of Shakespeare
- A plot synopsis, list of characters, and analysis of several key passages
- An introduction by Harold Bloom.

From Bloom's now-canonical book "Shakespeare: The Invention of the Human" come individual meditations on two of Shakespeare's most famous plays, each with the play's original text.

Each title features:
- A selection of the best criticism on the play through the centuries
- Introductory essays on the development of criticism on the play in each century
- A brief biography of Shakespeare
- A plot synopsis, list of characters, and analysis of several key passages
- An introduction by Harold Bloom.