
As an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner, Menrva Books earns from qualifying purchases. Learn more
Contains (order varies by edition): **Comedies** The Two Gentlemen of Verona The Taming of the Shrew The Comedy of Errors Love¿s Labour¿s Lost A Midsummer Night¿s Dream The Comical History of the Merchant of Venice, or Otherwise Called the Jew of Venice The Merry Wives of Windsor Much Ado About Nothing As You Like It Twelfth Night, or What You Will Troilus and Cressida Measure for Measure All¿s Well That Ends Well The Two Noble Kinsmen **Histories** The First Part of the Contention of the Two Famous Houses of York and Lancaster (2 Henry VI) The True Tragedy of Richard Duke of York and the Good King Henry the Sixth (3 Henry VI) The First Part of Henry the Sixth The Tragedy of King Richard the Third The Tragedy of King Richard the Second The Life and Death of King John The History of Henry the Fourth (1 Henry IV) The Second Part of Henry the Fourth The Life of Henry the Fifth All Is True (Henry VIII) **Tragedies** Titus Andronicus The Most Excellent and Lamentable Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet The Tragedy of Julius Caesar The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark The Tragedy of Othello the Moor of Venice The Life of Timon of Athens The History of King Lear: The Quarto Text The Tragedy of King Lear: The Folio Text The Tragedy of King Lear: A Conflated Text The Tragedy of Macbeth The Tragedy of Antony and Cleopatra The Tragedy of Coriolanus **Romances** Pericles, Prince of Tyre The Winter¿s Tale Cymbeline, King of Britain Tempest **Poetry** Venus and Adonis The Rape of Lucrece The Sonnets and ¿A Lover¿s Complaint¿ Various Poems **Lost Plays** Love¿s Labour¿s Won: A Brief Account Cardenio: A Brief Account
This comprehensive collection presents the entirety of William Shakespeare's dramatic and poetic output, capturing the foundational conflicts of the human condition across diverse genres. These works follow a wide array of protagonists—from tragic kings and star-crossed lovers to witty schemers and supernatural entities—as they navigate political upheaval, romantic entanglements, and existential crises. The narrative frameworks vary significantly, ranging from iambic pentameter verse to prose, utilizing soliloquies and dialogue to reveal internal motivations. The world-building is rooted in the historical and social structures of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, yet it operates under the logical constraints of theatrical performance and poetic artifice.
Discussion often centers on the editorial choices made by the Oxford team, particularly the decision to present plays in a chronological order that reflects modern scholarship. Readers frequently highlight the utility of the textual notes, which provide necessary context for archaic language and historical references. Critics often debate the inclusion of multiple versions of plays like King Lear, noting that it offers a unique look into the evolution of the text. The volume is widely regarded as a standard reference for both students and scholars seeking a rigorous, academically sound edition of the canon. This edition remains a primary resource for those interested in the textual history and performance traditions of the works.
Page Count:
1480
Publication Date:
1987-03-05
Publisher:
Oxford University Press
ISBN-10:
0191900621
ISBN-13:
9780191900624
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!