Why has the work of this modest Elizabethan actor and playwright survived over the centuries and across continents? It is because, even for the modern reader, Shakespeare's wit, immediacy of action, lively plots, and subtle characterisations make him infinitely accessible and continually captivating. The Complete Plays of William Shakespeare contains all thirty-seven plays written by this brilliant playwright. The light and whimsical comedies, stirring histories, and profound and cathartic tragedies are true classics that are treasured throughout the world. This magnificent collection brings to the reader of all Shakespeare's memorable characters including Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, Othello, Richard III, Hamlet, Antony andCleopatra, and King Henry VIII—characters who stand as vivid today as when Shakespeare first set pen to paper more than three centuries ago. These splendid works are accompanied by precise and eloquent black-and-white line illustrations, making this an attractive volume that brings Shakespeare's popular and enduring plays as close as the nearest bookshelf. —back cover