Books in the The Arden Shakespeare series

This annotated edition of "King Richard II" takes a fresh look at the first part of Shakespeare's second tetralogy of history plays, showing how it relates to the other plays in the sequence.

David Scott Kastan's lucid exploration of the remarkable richness and ambitious design of "King Henry IV Part I" reveals the play to be almost a treatise on the central relationship between value and political authority.

The author takes a broad look at the different meanings which have been attributed to "King Henry V", through a discussion of its various critical and theatrical interpretations.

In this edition, R.A. Foakes brings to bear a number of historical perspectives and critically addresses recent explorations of "King Lear" as a play of redemption, a play of despair and a play that destabilises all commentary.

This edition of "Julius Caesar" provides a lively edition of one of Shakespeare's most familiar and studied plays. The introduction sets the play in the context of the last years of Elizabeth I's reign, with rebellion stirring and conflicts over the calendar.

In their introduction to this play, the editors show how the young Shakespeare, working closely from his chronicle sources, nevertheless freely shaped his complex material to make it both theatrically effective and poetically innovative.

A major new edition of this perennially succesful play which continues to entertain and perplex modern audiences. The play is discussed in its critical and theatrical contexts and Hodgdon, a leading feminist scholar, opens up new readings for modern audiences and students.

First performed in 1727, Cardenio or Double Falsehood was based on a play originally written by William Shakespeare. This significant new edition traces the elements of his work to be found in the text we have today, opening up fascinating questions and ideas for all students of Shakespeare.

"King Henry VIII" has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a fresh perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play.

This Roman play is one of Shakespeare's last tragedies, best known for its political and military themes.The Introduction and commentary notes open up the language, themes and ideas in this complex yet richly rewarding play for the student and teacher.

One of Shakespeare's late plays, The Winter's Tale falls into two distinct parts: the first part tragedy and the second, comedy. John Pitcher's lively introduction and commentary explores the extraordinary merging of theatrical forms in the play and its success in performance.

Critically acclaimed as one of Shakespeare's most complex and intriguing plays, "Twelfth Night" is a classic romantic comedy of mistaken identities. This book explores the factors that make up the play's textual, theatrical, critical and cultural history. It surveys the play's production and reception and emphasizes the role of the spectator.

John Wilders brings to life the range of approaches that have been taken to the play's production and performance. The edition includes guidance on the play's many classical references and short biographies of historical characters.

This comprehensive edition of King Richard III offers all the features associated with the Arden Shakespeare. Richard is one of Shakespeare's great villains and the play that bears his name is one of his most popular in performance and in classrooms.

With its cross-dressed heroine, gender games and explorations of sexual ambivalence, its Forest of Arden and melancholy Jacques, this book speaks directly to the twenty-first century. It connects the play to the Elizabethan court and its dynamic queen and demonstrates that the play's vital roots in its own time give it new life in ours.