Books by Ben Crystal

An accessible short introduction to Hamlet, ideal for students and theatre-goers alike

Shakespearean author and actor Ben Crystal gives a unique introduction to A Midsummer Night's Dream with guidance on what to think about before, during and after you see or study the play.

Shakespearean author and actor Ben Crystal gives a unique introduction to Macbeth before, during and after you see or study the play.

An original and funny take on what it is to be British The A to Z guide to your own laughable behaviourExplore the oddities of the British psyche with this informative and witty illustrated guide. From small-talk to superiority, from cricket to condiments, and curry to class, when wandering lonely through the clouds of British behaviour this is the perfect companion. Discover the fate of a pitbull named ASBO, find out why we get bank holidays when we do, and learn why it's better to drive on the left. With 40 hilarious illustrations from acclaimed cartoonist Ed McLachlan, this is the perfect book for a nation that loves to laugh at itself.

A vital resource for scholars, students and actors, this book contains glosses and quotes for over 14,000 words that could be misunderstood by or are unknown to a modern audience. Displayed panels look at such areas of Shakespeare's language as greetings, swear-words and terms of address. Plot summaries are included for all Shakespeare's plays and on the facing page is a unique diagramatic representation of the relationships within each play.