After falling in love with Cleopatra, Antony neglects his duties as a member of triumvirate that rules Rome and stays in Egypt. He returns after his wife dies and soon finds himself in a power struggle with Octavius Caesar. This historical tragedy by Shakespeare brings these legendary figures to life and demonstrates the conflict between emotional attachments and duty...

A mixture of unrequited love, mistaken identities, and trickery all contribute to the comedic situations in Shakespeare’s All’s Well That Ends Well. After saving the King of France from an illness, Helena is allowed to marry any man in the country. She chooses a nobleman who is appalled by the idea of marrying someone of lower birth. ..

This early Shakespearean comedy/problem play is spun around two plots:one involving the greedy creditor, Shylock, and the other, a marriage suitor's choice among three chests to win the hand of the creditor's beautiful daughter, Portia. The themes of compassion vs. ruthlessness and generosity vs. greed are resolved in a courtroom where Portia, disguised as a male barrister, delivers the famous speech "The quality of mercy is not strain'd . . ."...

The Life and Death of King John, a historical drama by William Shakespeare, focuses on the struggle over succession between King John and his nephew Arthur. The story is full of twists and turns as different characters switch allegiances and characters plot against one another. ..

Othello, the Moor of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s greatest tragedies and has been made into several film adaptations. Jealousy, deceit, and betrayal drive the story of Othello, a Moor and Venetian general, who eloped with a senator’s daughter. When he sets out with his wife and subordinates to fight the Turks, those he thinks are loyal to him ultimately cause his destruction...

Set in a charming Italian town, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare’s most enduring comdies. Leonato and his family welcome friends home from war. Their arrival brings about many hilarious situations, as members of the group try their hands at matchmaking and deceit. ..

The King of Navarre and three of his lords devote themselves solely to scholarship for three years in one of Shakespeare’s earliest comedies, Love’s Labour’s Lost. When the attractive Princess of France and friends appear on the scene, their plan veers off course. As the men pursue the women, confusion, impersonations, and mix-ups undermine their devotion to academe. ..

A tragedy of familial ties, fate, and betrayal begins as King Lear divides his kingdom between two of his three daughters, disowning the third, Cordelia. His two eldest daughters conspire against him, and Lear recognizes young Cordelia to be the faithful, loving one. She dies before Lear can remedy his mistake, and his guilt slowly drives him mad. ..

The saga of King Henry VI comes to a tragic end in Part III. The struggle among the nobility over the throne comes to a climax and all involved must deal with the suffering caused by the fighting and its effect on their relationships...

Fearing that Julius Caesar has become too powerful and is endangering the freedom of the Republic, several influential Romans, including his closest friend Brutus, plot and carry out his assassination and then engage in a bloody struggle for power in this gripping historical tragedy by Shakespeare...

One of Shakespeare’s classic comedies, As You Like It contrasts the rivalry present in courtly life with the harmony of the Forest of Arden, where Rosalind, the story’s heroine, has been banished. Disguised as a man, she encounters several characters and finds herself in many interesting situations...

There are important facets of our humanity that are both non-rational and beyond our control. A Midsummer Night's Dream celebrates this essential fact of life. In this romantic comedy, Shakespeare demonstrates how fantasy and imagination color our perception of the world and how we behave toward others. Two beloved characters, Puck and Bottom, drive the plots through their various twists and turns, as four young lovers, a troupe of amateur actors, and the king and queen of the fairies spend a night in the forest...

This title is from the Hayes Barton Press "Originals" series, a collection of classic fiction and nonfiction works from world literature published in the VitalBook format. Look for new titles soon, as we expand to include more works from both Western and Eastern cultures. Available exclusively from the VitalSource Store...

King Henry VI, Part II is a tale of courtly intrigue. The story picks up after Part I with the signing of a peace treaty with France. Two groups of nobles plot against each other as well as Henry, resulting in tragedy. ..

This is a collection of folklore and myths that are associated with Theravada Buddhism. Originally written in Pali, they were later translated to Latin, Hebrew, Greek, and Persian and are here retold by Ellen Babbitt...

Flower Fables is a collection of fairy stories and poems written by Louisa May Alcott when she was only twenty-one. It was the first book that she had published and the stories were ones that she originally told to Ralph Waldo Emerson's daughter...