Two Gentlemen of Verona is commonly agreed to be Shakespeare's first comedy, and probably his first play. A comedy built around the confusions of doubling, cross - dressing and identity, it is also a play about the ideal of male friendship and what happens to those friendships when men fall in love.William Carroll's engaging Introduction focuses on the traditions and sources that stand behind the play and explores Shakespeare's unique and bold treatment of them. Special attention is given to the strong female figure of Julia and the controversial final scene.

Wie ein elisabethanischer Superman herrscht der Zauberer Prospero über Natur, Geister und Menschen. Anstatt Rache an seinen Feinden zu nehmen, läßt er sie im Sturm überleben und zeigt damit den Weg zu Menschlichkeit und Selbsterkenntnis: "Wir sind vom Stoff, aus dem die Träume sind; und unser kleines Leben beginnt und schließt ein Schlaf."§Der Klassiker in der Neuübersetzung von Frank Günter.

William Shakespeare's King Lear is believed by many scholars to be one of his finest achievements. King Lear tells of the tragedy resulting from the title character dividing his kingdom among his daughters based upon their ability to flatter his ego. Lear missteps in dispersing his kingdom between the sycophantic Regan and Goneril while disinheriting the plainspoken, honest Cordelia. The reverence previously displayed by Regan and Goneril proves to be fickle once their estates are assured, and the innocent and those at fault all pay a heavy price for Lear's vanities.

This collection chronicles the fiction and non fiction classics by the greatest writers the world has ever known. The inclusion of both popular as well as overlooked pieces is pivotal to providing a broad and representative collection of classic works.

Friendship and Greed!--

Timon is a wealthy and generous man. Over the length of the play we watch as he slowly gives away his entire fortune. Then we witness the tragedy of a man who comes to realize that he has no friends now that he has no money.

"Here lies a wretched corse,
Of wretched soul bereft:
Seek not my name: a
Plague consume you wicked
Caitiffs left! Here lie I, Timon;
who, alive, all living men did hate:
Pass by and curse thy fill, but
Pass and stay not here thy gait."

Innocence and Jealousy--

Like Othello and The Winters Tale, Cymbeline deals with perceived betrayal and jealousy. Posthumus Leonatus loves Imogen, daughter of Cymbeline, the King of Britain. Cymbeline has forbidden their relationship and so Posthumus flees the country. In Italy he meets Iachimo who bets Posthumus that he can seduce Imogen. Posthumus accepts the bet and sets the events that will lead to tragedy into motion.

"No exorciser harm thee!
Nor no witchcraft charm thee!
Ghost unlaid forbear thee!
Nothing ill come near thee!
Quiet consummation have:
And renowned be thy grave!"