The reader's encyclopedia of shakespeare

The most famous writer in the Western world and a cultural bellwether for four centuries, William Shakespeare has generated more research and criticism than any other literary figure in history. Volumes scrutinizing his life, his works, and his times could easily fill several libraries; but many of these books are highly specialized, covering a single aspect or focusing on a specific work (or even a character within it). Designed for scholars, students, and avid readers, this definitive reference places all this information and more between the covers of a single volume. From synopses of plays to discussions about the authorship controversy, from facts about Elizabethan theater to data on the world of publishing, from sources and stage histories and to character studies and biographical profiles, this guidebook synthesizes the scholarship of dozens of acknowledged experts, presenting information in a clear, readable style. Includes a chronology of events, transcripts of documents, and a 30-page selected bibliography, as well as dozens of black-and-white photos and illustrations.