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The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Volume 1 of 2
Excerpt from William Shakspeare's Complete Works, Dramatic and Poetic, Vol. 1 of 2
Some distinction he probably first acquired as an actor, but no character has been discovered in which he appeared to more advantage than in that of the Ghost in and the best critics and inquirers into his life are of opinion, that he was not eminent as an actor. In tracing the chronology of his plays, it has been discovered, that Romeo and Juliet, and Richard ll. And III., were printed in 1597, when he was thirty-three years old. There is also some reason to think that he commenced a dramatic writer in 1592, and Mr. Malone even places his first play, The First Part of Henry VI., in 1589.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
Some distinction he probably first acquired as an actor, but no character has been discovered in which he appeared to more advantage than in that of the Ghost in and the best critics and inquirers into his life are of opinion, that he was not eminent as an actor. In tracing the chronology of his plays, it has been discovered, that Romeo and Juliet, and Richard ll. And III., were printed in 1597, when he was thirty-three years old. There is also some reason to think that he commenced a dramatic writer in 1592, and Mr. Malone even places his first play, The First Part of Henry VI., in 1589.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
570 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1621
28 people are currently reading
421 people want to read
About the author
William Shakespeare
27.6k books47k followersWilliam Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
December 14, 2023
In my fifties, with a drama degree, I've finally read or scene most of Shakespeares's plays.
William Shakespeare lived 1564 till 1616, if you're on ancestry dot com, with a British background, you'll notice that most church and government records start in the 16th century. This is because the 1500s started with Henry the 8th burning all the Catholic church records when he started the Church of England (and killed all the priests, brothers and nuns and took their property). Shakespeare makes fun of a lot of people, but he doesn't dare touch the King with a ten foot pole, because he has seen the consequences of that. King Henry would destroy our collective history if it didn't agree with his personal whims. Shakespeare lived through the reign of Queen Elizabeth the 1st, and he never touched her with his pen. King Charles the first followed, hehe.
Shakespeare does make fun of foreign royalty, local nobility, working class people, and his own breed, the wandering players and actors of his time. His plays are generally divided into Comedies, Tragedies and Histories, and he clearly wrote to a form that his audiences would recognise.
Both audiences and society have changed in the 500 years since his time- women and races other than white have almost achieved equality, and people's attention spans have gotten shorter. English has also changed in that time, both the words, and forms like poetic plays, written in Iambic Pentameter. Some modern directors choose plays which reflect modern issues, and re-set their play, others try cross-casting and multi-ethnic casting.
I cringe at the sexism and racism now, but Shakespeare was radical in his time, writing a mixed race marriage in Othello, and heaps of characters who cross-dress and disguise themselves as the opposite sex.
I have grown to appreciate this, our dramatic history, and not to hate it like I did at high school.
William Shakespeare lived 1564 till 1616, if you're on ancestry dot com, with a British background, you'll notice that most church and government records start in the 16th century. This is because the 1500s started with Henry the 8th burning all the Catholic church records when he started the Church of England (and killed all the priests, brothers and nuns and took their property). Shakespeare makes fun of a lot of people, but he doesn't dare touch the King with a ten foot pole, because he has seen the consequences of that. King Henry would destroy our collective history if it didn't agree with his personal whims. Shakespeare lived through the reign of Queen Elizabeth the 1st, and he never touched her with his pen. King Charles the first followed, hehe.
Shakespeare does make fun of foreign royalty, local nobility, working class people, and his own breed, the wandering players and actors of his time. His plays are generally divided into Comedies, Tragedies and Histories, and he clearly wrote to a form that his audiences would recognise.
Both audiences and society have changed in the 500 years since his time- women and races other than white have almost achieved equality, and people's attention spans have gotten shorter. English has also changed in that time, both the words, and forms like poetic plays, written in Iambic Pentameter. Some modern directors choose plays which reflect modern issues, and re-set their play, others try cross-casting and multi-ethnic casting.
I cringe at the sexism and racism now, but Shakespeare was radical in his time, writing a mixed race marriage in Othello, and heaps of characters who cross-dress and disguise themselves as the opposite sex.
I have grown to appreciate this, our dramatic history, and not to hate it like I did at high school.
December 13, 2020
The first half of the Bard's works. They only get better over time.
April 20, 2025
Enjoyed it when I read it so yeah.
August 9, 2011
It has all the plays I attended while in College as I took acting classes. Romeo and Juliet is my all time favorite story of the two young lovers who plan went wrong...The Plays I watched from the book were:
Love's Labour's Lost
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Taming of the Shrew
Much Ado About Nothing
As You Like IT
Twelfth Night
All's Well That Ends Well
Which yes I like comedy and anyone attending Plays for the first time should start with a comedy by Shakespeare...
What I would have like to seen from the book but may not is:
King Henry VI
Richard III
Romeo and Juliet
Julius Cesar
Hamlet
Othello
King Lear
Macbeth
Antony and Cleopatra
The Tempest
A Lover's Complaint
All word for word in the Book it is supper to read
Love's Labour's Lost
A Midsummer Night's Dream
The Taming of the Shrew
Much Ado About Nothing
As You Like IT
Twelfth Night
All's Well That Ends Well
Which yes I like comedy and anyone attending Plays for the first time should start with a comedy by Shakespeare...
What I would have like to seen from the book but may not is:
King Henry VI
Richard III
Romeo and Juliet
Julius Cesar
Hamlet
Othello
King Lear
Macbeth
Antony and Cleopatra
The Tempest
A Lover's Complaint
All word for word in the Book it is supper to read
April 14, 2011
4/18/09: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (5 Acts)
I haven't read any Shakespeare in over a decade; I thought a romp through one of his comedies was called for...this was pretty entertaining, but Shakespeare is a love 'im or hate 'im kinda guy, and I still luv 'im, after all these years!
I haven't read any Shakespeare in over a decade; I thought a romp through one of his comedies was called for...this was pretty entertaining, but Shakespeare is a love 'im or hate 'im kinda guy, and I still luv 'im, after all these years!
Currently reading
April 1, 2010Reading Taming of the Shrew right now- have no plans to read this cover-to-cover, but to read through the ones I like :)
February 21, 2013
loved it! Can't wait to read volume 2. My favorite works would have to be The Comedy Of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing.
March 26, 2013
William Shakespeare is the most inspirational playwright i've ever read. Romanticism at it's very best. Love his work! X
Want to read
September 12, 2015I haven't read all of them, but a great many of them.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews