Shakespeare A to Z: The Essential Reference to His Plays, His Poems, His Life and Times, and More

– What famous essayist insisted that Shakespeare’s plays were unfit for performance?
– Which two plays center on the Hundred Years’ War?
– In which scene of “Romeo and Juliet” does the Nurse report -falsely- that Juliet is dead and thus seal Romeo’s tragic fate?

The answers are easily found in “Shakespeare A to Z,” the only single-volume reference to virtually everything one needs -or wants- to know about the Bard. Wonderfully informative, this comprehensive work includes 3,000 entries and 50 illustrations covering:

– EVERY PLAY, including scene-by-scene synopses, critical commentary, sources, textual commentary, and theatrical history
– EVERY CHARACTER, from Aaron to Young Talbot, including those without speaking parts
– THE POEMS, including the sonnets and long works in verse
– ACTORS, PRODUCERS, AND DIRECTORS, including William Kempe, Charles Laughton, Sarah Bernhardt, Sir Laurence Olivier, and others who have brought the plays and characters to life over the centuries
– PLACES, real and imaginary, important to Shakespeare’s life and works
– THEATRICAL AND LITERARY TERMS that relate to the plays and poetry
– CONTEMPORARIES OF SHAKESPEARE, including family members, friends and colleagues, patrons, and historical figures
– AUTHORS, SCHOLARS, AND PUBLISHERS of Shakespeare’s works, critical studies, and histories – and much more, all in easily accessible encyclopedic format.