Josh Verbae

Count Claudio falls in love with Hero, the daughter of his host. Hero's cousin Beatrice (a confirmed spinster) and Benedict (an eternal bachelor) are each duped into believing the other is in love with them. Claudio is deceived by a malicious plot and denounces Hero as unchaste before they marry. She faints and is believed dead, but recovers to be proved innocent by a chance discovery. Benedict wins Beatrice?s love defending her cousin?s honour, and...

A wealthy citizen of ancient Greece, Timon delights in entertaining his friends and lavishing them with extravagant gifts. His largesse ultimately exceeds his means, and when creditors begin to press him for repayment, the open-handed host is devastated to discover that the guests -- who gladly accepted everything he had -- have now turned their backs on him. Profoundly disillusioned, Timon forswears society and retreats to the wilderness, where further...

This romantic drama portrays the travails of a wandering prince and the redemptive powers of a daughter's love. Driven from one end of the Mediterranean to another by the winds of fate, Pericles endures loss and heartbreak before his odyssey ends in a miraculous reunion. Shipwreck, famine, and other disasters punctuate this wondrous tale, in which a knight in rusty armor fights for his true love and a princess kidnapped by pirates retains her honor...

One of the author's "dark" comedies, its compelling characters include a duke masquerading as a monk, a would-be nun ordered to sacrifice her chastity to save her brother's life, and a hypocritical politician. Shakespeare's sensitive, forceful exploration of the basis of good government, public and private morality, and other themes.

Presents the original text of Shakespeare's play side by side with a modern version, with marginal notes and explanations and full descriptions of each character.

In order to win the wealthy Portia's hand in marriage, Bassanio thinks he needs money to impress her. He goes to his friend Antonio for help, but Antonio's money is tied up in ships. Antonio brings him to Shylock, a Jewish moneylender. Shylock despises Antonio but agrees to lend Bassanio 3,000 ducats without interest ... on one condition: that Antonio surrender a pound of flesh if Bassanio can't repay the loan. Set in Venice, this play addresses the...

Prospero uses magic to conjure a storm and torment the survivors of a shipwreck, including the King of Naples and Prospero?s treacherous brother, Antonio. Prospero?s slave, Caliban, plots to rid himself of his master, but is thwarted by Prospero?s spirit-servant Ariel. The King?s young son Ferdinand, thought to be dead, falls in love with Prospero?s daughter Miranda. Their celebrations are cut short when Prospero confronts his brother and reveals...

Presents the original text of Shakespeare's play side by side with a modern version, with marginal notes and explanations and full descriptions of each character.

Unjustly deposed by his younger brother, the rightful duke retreats to the Forest of Arden and forms a utopia with his loyal followers while his daughter remains at court as a companion to her cousin. When forbidden romance enters their lives, the girls assume disguises and flee to the forest, where they encounter a magical world of friendly outlaws and wise fools. Both a lighthearted comedy and a deeper exploration of social and literary issues,...

The ghost of the King of Denmark tells his son Hamlet to avenge his murder by killing the new king, Hamlet's uncle. Hamlet feigns madness, contemplates life and death, and seeks revenge. His uncle, fearing for his life, also devises plots to kill Hamlet. The play ends with a duel, during which the King, Queen, Hamlet's opponent and Hamlet himself are all killed.