Despite the reshifting of values that has affected every aspect of life
in the 21st century, William Shakespeare still stands as the greatest
writer the English language has ever produced. Even so, many people have
never read him. If you have never read the Bard--or if you've tried and
given up in frustration--you need Shakespeare For Beginners.
Author Brandon Toropov opens with the observation that Shakespeare's
genius is not in his (or England's) history, it's in his words, most
notably, his plays--in his brilliant stories, unforgettable characters,
and the impossible beauty of his language. So, Shakespeare For
Beginners skips the historical foreplay and goes straight to
Shakespeare's plays. The book offers clear, concise descriptions and
plot summaries of each play; it lists key phrases and important themes,
explains the main ideas behind each work and features excerpt of
important passages (with explanatory notes on tough words.) And it is
the only 'entry level' book available outside Great Britain that covers
all of Shakespeare's plays.