Books by William Shakespeare

Henry VI, Part III is one of Shakespeare's most famous histories. But let's face it...if you don't understand it, then you are not alone. If you have struggled in the past reading Shakespeare, then we can help you out. Our books and apps have been used and trusted by millions of students worldwide. Plain and Simple English books, let you see both the original and the modern text (modern text is underneath in italics)--so you can enjoy Shakespeare, but have help if you get stuck on a passage.

On a dark winter night, a ghost walks the ramparts of Elsinore Castle in Denmark. Discovered first by a pair of watchmen, then by the scholar Horatio, the ghost resembles the recently deceased King Hamlet, whose brother Claudius has inherited the throne and married the king's widow, Queen Gertrude. When Horatio and the watchmen bring Prince Hamlet, the son of Gertrude and the dead king, to see the ghost, it speaks to him, declaring ominously that it is indeed his father's spirit, and that he was murdered by none other than Claudius. Ordering Hamlet to seek revenge on the man who usurped his throne and married his wife, the ghost disappears with the dawn. Prince Hamlet devotes himself to avenging his father's death, but, because he is contemplative and thoughtful by nature, he delays, entering into a deep melancholy and even apparent madness. Claudius and Gertrude worry about the prince's erratic behavior and attempt to discover its cause. They employ a pair of Hamlet's friends, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, to watch him. When Polonius, the pompous Lord Chamberlain, suggests that Hamlet may be mad with love for his daughter, Ophelia, Claudius agrees to spy on Hamlet in conversation with the girl. But though Hamlet certainly seems mad, he does not seem to love Ophelia: he orders her to enter a nunnery and declares that he wishes to ban marriages.

I have been a fan of Shakespeare for many, many years, and have been helping students enjoy reading his plays for over a decade. But sometimes, when a student or adult wants to enjoy Shakespeare without the benefit of a group to read the plays aloud with, it would be nice to have Shakespeare in the form of a novel. I have taken much of Shakespeare's dialogue from Much Ado About Nothing and tried to add just enough scene and character identification to make the play make sense. I hope you enjoy this novel look at one of my favorite Shakespeare comedies!

In this classic and timeless tragedy, King Lear descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters, a decision that will bring tragic consequences for all. The play is based on a mythological Celtic king. It has been widely adapted for the stage and motion pictures and the role of King Lear has been coveted and played by many of the world's most accomplished actors. The play was written between 1603 and 1606 and later revised. King Lear is particularly noted for its probing observations on the nature of human suffering and kinship. The great George Bernard Shaw once stated that no one will ever write a better tragedy than King Lear. Visit ladyvalkyrie.com for more titles and Genres of books in both traditional and large font sizes!

Bassanio, a young Venetian of noble rank, wishes to woo the beautiful and wealthy heiress Portia of Belmont. Having squandered his estate, Bassanio approaches his friend Antonio, a wealthy merchant of Venice who has previously and repeatedly bailed him out, for 3,000 ducats needed to subsidise his expenditures as a suitor. Antonio agrees, but since he is cash-poor - his ships and merchandise are busy at sea - he promises to cover a bond if Bassanio can find a lender, so Bassanio turns to the Jewish moneylender Shylock and names Antonio as the loan's guarantor.