An ideal reference companion for students and enthusiasts of Shakespeare, this informative and entertaining Miscellany gives a wealth of contextual and biographical information to enhance your understanding and enjoyment of his work. There is an entry for every play, summarising its plot and outlining its major characters and themes. Whether you need to know the plot of Cymbeline, the names of characters in As You Like It, or something about the actors Shakespeare wrote for, this book provides the perfect quick reference. If you need to know more about Shakespeare's life and times, details are given of the debates surrounding his identity and appearance, the known and fanciful facts of his life, the theatres in which he worked and the acting companies of which he was a member.


The book is arranged thematically rather than alphabetically, with a full index making it easy to navigate if you want an answer to a particular question, or intriguing just to dip in and out of. The core topics covered are: Theatres and Players; Controversies; Shakespeare the Writer; Facts and Figures; Shakespeare and Language; Afterlife; Chronology of Shakespeare's Plays; A Biographical Chronology.