The Shakespeare Handbooks provide a helpful, straightforward guide to the work of the world's most celebrated dramatist. Along with a clear, easy-to-follow description of the plot, each book contains plenty of quotations from the text - with simple explanations of any unfamiliar words and phrases - and some thought-provoking comments from critics, past and present. The Shakespeare Handbooks include a few intriguing Shakespearean facts and figures, too. How old was Shakespeare when he wrote The Merry Wives of Windsor? How is the play unique amongst Shakespeare's works? Which famous author, who called Shakespeare 'the great master', organised an amateur production of the play? What is a 'buck-basket'? And a 'mountain of mummy'? Which German revolutionaries - and which Russian ruler - were great admirers of Merry Wives? Where was Bucklersbury, and why was it famous? When was 'simple time'? And who was Sackerson? If you're apprehensive about approaching a Shakespeare play, the Shakespeare Handbooks provide the perfect introduction. They're ideal for students, theatregoers - in fact, anyone curious to know more about the greatest plays in the English language. These are a few of the appreciative comments we've received about The Shakespeare Handbooks: "Tremendously useful in helping to understand Shakespeare's works" - Dame Judi Dench. "Very readable, very helpful" - Kenneth Branagh." The Shakespeare Handbooks open the plays up admirably. Excellent for all levels of reader - everybody will get something from them." - Simon Callow.