For each of Shakespeare's plays, provides an introduction, list of characters, plot summary, notes on reading the play, and notes on seeing the play. Also includes an introduction to Shakespeare and his time; a genre overview for each of the four types of play--history, comedy, tragedy, and romance; and overviews of selected non-dramatic poems.

Includes index.

How to use this handbook -- The life of William Shakespeare -- Shakespeare in his time -- Elizabethan and Jacobean theatre -- Shakespeare's canon -- Shakespeare's language -- The works of Shakespeare -- The history plays: Henry VI, part I -- Henry VI, part II -- Henry VI, part III -- Richard III -- King John -- Edward III -- Richard II -- Henry IV, part I -- Henry IV, part II -- Henry V -- Henry VIII -- The comedies: The comedy of errors -- The taming of the shrew -- The two gentlemen of Verona -- Love's labour's lost -- A midsummer night's dream -- The merchant of Venice -- The merry wives of Windsor -- Much ado about nothing -- As you like it -- Twelfth night -- Troilus and Cressida -- All's well that ends well -- Measure for measure -- The tragedies: Titus Andronicus -- Romeo and Juliet -- Julius Caesar -- Hamlet -- Othello -- King Lear -- Macbeth -- Antony and Cleopatra -- Coriolanus -- Timon of Athens -- The romances: Pericles -- Cymbeline -- The winter's tale -- The tempest -- The two noble kinsmen -- Non-dramatic poetry: The narrative poems: Venus and Adonis -- The rape of Lucrece -- The phoenix and the turtle -- A lover's complaint -- The lyric poems: The sonnets -- Shall I die? -- Epitaphs -- Global Shakespeare -- Index -- Picture credits & acknowledgements.