In Greek legend, Prometheus was the Titan who, against the will of Zeus, stole fire from the gods for the benefit of man. His terrible punishment by Zeus, and his continuing defiance of Zeus in the face of that punishment, remain universal symbols of...

The magnificent, timeless drama is the world's most famous tale of "star-crossed lovers." The young, unshakable love of Juliet and Romeo defies the feud that divides their families—the Capulets and Montagues—as their desperate need to be together, their...

This is one of Shakespeare’s darkest comedies, for the romantic story of a young man, Bassanio, who has squandered his fortune and must borrow money to woo the wealthy lady he loves is set against the more disturbing story of the Jewish moneylender...

The acclaimed Pelican Shakespeare series edited by A. R. Braunmuller and Stephen OrgelThe legendary Pelican Shakespeare series features authoritative and meticulously researched texts paired with scholarship by renowned Shakespeareans. Each book includes...

The ill-fated reign of King Richard II and his eventual overthrow take center stage in one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays.This title in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes:• An overview of William Shakespeare’s life, world, and...

Molière understood profoundly what makes us noble, pathetic, outrageous and funny, and in his splendid comedies satirized human folly to perfection. One of the best of his plays — and one of the greatest of all comedies — is The Misanthrope, first...

A triumphantly patriotic play that also casts a critical eye at war and warriors, this great epic drama depicts a charismatic ruler in a time of national struggle. The young King Henry’s victory over the French despite overwhelming odds creates a...

Helen Vendler, widely regarded as our most accomplished interpreter of poetry, here serves as an incomparable guide to some of the best-loved poems in the English language.In detailed commentaries on Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets, Vendler reveals previously...

A king foolishly divides his kingdom between his scheming two oldest daughters and estranges himself from the daughter who loves him. So begins this profoundly moving and disturbing tragedy that, perhaps more than any other work in literature, challenges...

Featuring the rise of King Henry V, this history play chronicles England's underdog victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War.This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:• An overview of...

The Signet Classics edition of the Shakespeare play that straddles the line between tragedy and comedy.When jealous King Leontes falsely accuses his wife of infidelity, he sets off a chain of events that will explore remorse, love, joy, compassion, and...