This volume contains the Shakespeare lectures which formed a part of Masson's course delivered at Edinburgh University. Over the years he revised and added to these lectures and they may be regarded as containing the substance of Masson's lifelong study of and thoughts concerning Shakespeare. Contents: on biography in general and Shakespeare's in particular; Shakespeare from the external evidences; chronology of the plays; Shakespeare through his writings; progress in Shakespeare's moods, recurrences and fervors; the sonnets.