Notes

'The ultimate companion to the life and work of the world's greatest playwright - ideal for theatregoers, students, movie buffs and lovers of literature alike. Both a quick reference and an in-depth background guide, it features :
Full coverage of all 38 plays, including a synopsis, character list, stage history and a full critical essay for each.
Up-to-date reviews of the best films and audio recordings... alongside recommended texts, critical studies and further reading.
Fascinating features on such topics as swearing in Shakespeare, the role of fools, cross-dressing and the mystery of Shakespeare's lost plays.
Detailed analysis of Shakespeare's poetry - both the famous Sonnets and the less well-known narrative poems.
Vivid accounts of Shakespeare's life and theatre, with colourful detail on how the plays were originally performed.
Classic images of great Shakespearian actors and celebrated recent productions'--Back cover