Introduction

The entertaining and accessible guide to the life and work of Shakespeare, celebrating over 400 years of his legacy.

Known the world over and translated into innumerable languages, Shakespeare’s plays are as eloquent and as relevant today as they were more than 400 years ago. His works have been a permanent feature on school curricula for years, but with thirty-eight plays, over 150 sonnets and numerous other poems, there’s such a wealth of material it’s no wonder we sometimes forget the finer details.

To Be or Not To Be is a fresh, new look at the Bard’s work, showing how and why it remains such an integral part of popular culture and the English language. This is the ultimate guide to Shakespeare, covering everything from his characters, the essential plots and the famous lines to illuminating information on history’s most influential and renowned playwright.