General Information

Shakespeare: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd, 2006 (reprint), 592 pages
Rating:
Ackroyd's tone throughout the book is that of a tireless and imaginative raconteur, an endlessly resourceful investigator and a textual analyst of the first order.
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A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare : 1599 by James Shapiro, 2005, 432 pages
Rating:
The year 1599 was crucial in the Bard's artistic evolution as well as in the historical upheavals he lived through. The book is brilliant and gives a whole large picture of Shakespeare's life, times, and achievement. Wonderful.
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Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt, 2004, 430 pages
Rating:
Greenblatt makes inspired connections between the life and the works and delivers "a dazzling and subtle biography"
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Romeo and Juliet

William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Modern Critical Interpretations), Harold Bloom (editor), 1999
Rating:
Discusses themes, structure, and characters in "Romeo and Juliet," and includes selections from critical essays.
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William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Barron's Book Notes) by Sharon Linnea, 1984
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William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet (Bloom's Notes) Harold Bloom (editor)
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Includes a brief biography of William Shakespeare, thematic and structural analysis of the work, critical views, and an index of themes and ideas.
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William Shakespeare's King Lear by Harold Bloom (editor), 1998
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Includes a brief biography of the author, thematic and structural analysis of the work, critical views, and an index of themes and ideas.
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MAXnotes for King Lear by Ruth, 1995
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This text looks at "King Lear" with an introduction, a list of further reading, commentary and a short account of the textual problems of the play. The series is used and recommended by the Royal Shakespeare Company.
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William Shakespeare's King Lear (Barron's Book Notes) by Arthur S. Rosenblatt, 1984
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Ready-To-Use Activities for Teaching MacBeth (Shakespeare Teacher's Activities Library) by John Wilson Swope, 1993
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William Shakespeare's MacBeth (Modern Critical Interpretations), Harold Bloom (Herausgeber), 1987
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William Shakespeare's MacBeth by Robert Owens Scott, 1984
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MAXnotes for Macbeth by Rebecca McKinlay Sheinberg
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Cliffsnotes Shakespeare's the Tempest by Sheri Metzger, 2000
This guide to Shakespeare's "The Tempest" aims to help students understand the overall structure of the play, actions and motivations of the characters, and the social and cultural perspectives of the author.
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MAXnotes for The Tempest by Research, Education Association Staff, Corinna Siebert Ruth, 1996
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Approaches to Teaching Shakespeare's Tempest and Other Late Romances by Maurice Hunt, ed., 1993 (Modern Language Association of America)
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Cliffs Notes on Shakespeare's Sonnets by Carl Senna, 2000
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Shakespeare's Sonnets and Poems by Harold Bloom (editor), 1999
Critical essays analyze the themes, style, and ideas of Shakespeare's poetry.
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