The makers of Encyclopaedia Britannica bring you the Great Books of the Western World. Comprising 60 volumes containing 517 works written by 130 authors, these texts capture the major ideas, stories, and discoveries that shaped Western culture.

Journey through Harvard University president Charles Eliot’s “five-foot shelf” of classics. This collection, first published in the early 1900s, remains one of the most comprehensive and well-researched anthologies of all time. Making good on earlier claims that he could fit the elements of a liberal education on a five-foot shelf, Eliot gathered this collection of key works, together with English professor William Neilson—who selected editions and wrote introductions. The massive collection covers major literary figures, philosophers, theologians, folklore, and historical subjects through the end of the nineteenth century. Originally published as a 51-volume collection of classics, the rise of modernism prompted Dr. Eliot to create an additional 20-volume collection of fiction—“The Shelf of Fiction”—to supplement his first collection. These two collections come together to create The Harvard Classics and Fiction Collection (71 vols.). Among...

Nearly 400 years after his death, William Shakespeare is still widely regarded as the one of the greatest English writers. His 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and other poems are some of the most influential literary works. His works survive in every major living language, and his plays are performed and adapted more than any other playwright’s. He wrote comedies, histories, tragedies, and romances, many of which are represented here in Oxford’s The Complete Works of William Shakespeare. Revealing the complexities of human life in story and in lyrical poems, Shakespeare’s writings offer a close study of the tragedy, comedy, and value of humankind. This edition of Shakespeare’s works includes a preface by the editor, each play and poem in its entirety, and a glossary of terms and first lines. The Complete Works of William Shakespeare is a must-have for any scholar, professor, or anyone interested in reading the most famous English writer of all time. Key Features Contains all...

The plays in the New Kittredge Shakespeare series retain their original Kittredge notes and introductions, changed or augmented only when some modernization seems necessary. These new editions also include introductory essays by contemporary editors, notes on the plays as they have been performed on stage and film, and additional study materials.

Enrich your study of early English history with over 25,000 historical documents and literary works. Spanning from the first works mass produced in English to the end of the seventeenth century, this collection provides insight into sixteenth and seventeenth century English literature, politics, and culture.

The Harvard Classics Journey through “Dr. Eliot’s Five Foot Shelf.” This massive collection, designed to provide the elements of a liberal education, was compiled by distinguished Harvard University president Charles Eliot in the early 1900s. Packed with the essential works of the Western classical tradition, the Harvard Classics collection remains one of the most comprehensive and well-researched anthologies of all time—a must-have library for students and lovers of the classics. Check out the complete The Harvard Classics and Fiction Collection. Keep reading with Harvard Classics, vol. 48: Blaise Pascal: Thoughts, Letters, and Minor Works. Contents Edward the Second, by Christopher Marlowe Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, and The Tempest, by William Shakespeare The Shoemaker’s Holiday, by Thomas Dekker The Alchemist, by Ben Jonson Philaster, by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher The Duchess of Malfi, by John Webster A New Way to Pay Old...

Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play. The highly influential work was based on the legend of Amleth, focusing on the revenge prince Hamlet unleashes on his uncle for murdering his father and marrying his mother. Hamlet exposes deep emotional pain and investigates human immorality.

Teach and train the next generation with this library of resources devoted to helping young people become better grounded in Scripture and the classics. Build on the foundation laid by those who came before using digital tools that enhance the great deposit of the past.

Based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological Celtic king, King Lear tells the tale of Lear’s descent into madness after he divides his estate between his daughters based on the quality of their flattery—which he uses to determine their love for him. Widely regarded as one of Shakespeare’s highest achievements, King Lear captures the very nature of human suffering. This volume contains George Lyman Kittredge’s edition of the tragedy.

While it is titled The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the play follows the character of Marcus Brutus and the psychological conflicts between honor, patriotism, and friendship. The play is one of several written by Shakespeare based on true Roman events. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar portrays the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, his assassination, and the Battle of Philippi—where his betrayers are defeated. Shakespeare’s sources for the play were the biographies of Brutus and Caesar included in Pluta...

Measure for Measure is often regarded as a comedy, though some critics prefer to classify it as one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays.” It dramatically captures the issues of mercy, justice, and truth, and how they each interact with pride and humility, or as the play puts it, “Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.”

Loosely based on the real King Macbeth of Scotland, The Tragedy of Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest and one of his darkest tragedies. Inspired by the prophecy of witches, Macbeth murders the king of Scotland and seizes the throne. To cover his bloody tracks, Macbeth continues to murder anyone and everyone who gets too close to the truth. In some circles of theater, the play is believed to be cursed, and it’s title isn’t mentioned aloud.

Hamlet is Shakespeare’s longest play. The highly influential work was based on the legend of Amleth, focusing on the revenge prince Hamlet unleashes on his uncle for murdering his father and marrying his mother. Hamlet exposes deep emotional pain and investigates human immorality.

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet was a part of a tradition of tragic romances, originally based on an Italian tale, which was translated into verse as The Tragical History of Romeus and Juliet by Arthur Brooke and later translated into prose in Palace of Pleasure by William Painter. Shakespeare built off these two works but added supporting roles and subplots—an early mark of his dramatic skill. The play focuses on the forbidden relationship between Romeo and Juliet—young lovers from feuding fami...

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is based on the Italian short story, Un Capitano Moro by Cinthio, and follows the Moorish general Othello, as well as his wife, Desdemona, his lieutenant, Cassio, and his ensign, lago. The tale is full of deception and betrayal as lago schemes to destroy Othello’s marriage. With strong themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal, Othello has remained a popular and relevant play since it was first published in 1565.

Get to know the classics with this hand-selected group of books that have inspired readers for decades! Featuring works by Jack London, George MacDonald, and Lewis Carroll, this collection of resources will take you across the world (and to worlds that have yet to be explored).

The Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s shortest play. Full of farces, puns, and slapstick humor, the brief play was designed to purely entertain. It is also one of Shakespeare’s only two plays that follow Aristotle’s classical unities. The story follows two sets of identical twins who were separated from their twins at birth. When one pair runs into the families of their brothers, the mistaken identities and chaos begins.

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is a comedy which tells of the adventures of young lovers and amateur actors, and their interactions with fairies. It takes place around the marriage of Theseus—the duke of Athens—and Hippoltya. It is one of Shakespeare’s most popular and most reproduced works.

Measure for Measure is often regarded as a comedy, though some critics prefer to classify it as one of Shakespeare’s “problem plays.” It dramatically captures the issues of mercy, justice, and truth, and how they each interact with pride and humility, or as the play puts it, “Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall.”

The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy which begins with a nobleman fooling a drunken commoner into believing he is a nobleman, and the play is then performed for his entertainment. The play itself focuses on Petruchio’s romancing of Katherina—the shrew. Katherina is rude and undesirable, but before her highly sought after sister Bianca can be married, Katherina must have a husband. While Bianca’s suitors seize every opportunity to win her favor, Petruchio uses psychological abuse to break Katherin...

Based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological Celtic king, King Lear tells the tale of Lear’s descent into madness after he divides his estate between his daughters based on the quality of their flattery—which he uses to determine their love for him. Widely regarded as one of Shakespeare’s highest achievements, King Lear captures the very nature of human suffering. This volume contains George Lyman Kittredge’s edition of the tragedy.

Loosely based on the real King Macbeth of Scotland, The Tragedy of Macbeth is Shakespeare’s shortest and one of his darkest tragedies. Inspired by the prophecy of witches, Macbeth murders the king of Scotland and seizes the throne. To cover his bloody tracks, Macbeth continues to murder anyone and everyone who gets too close to the truth. In some circles of theater, the play is believed to be cursed, and it’s title isn’t mentioned aloud.

Much Ado about Nothing is a comedic play which follows two couples: Benedick and Beatrice, and Claudio and Hero. It is a generally joyful play which also delves into honor, shame, and court politics, and explores themes of deception and infidelity.

While it is titled The Tragedy of Julius Caesar, the play follows the character of Marcus Brutus and the psychological conflicts between honor, patriotism, and friendship. The play is one of several written by Shakespeare based on true Roman events. The Tragedy of Julius Caesar portrays the conspiracy against Julius Caesar, his assassination, and the Battle of Philippi—where his betrayers are defeated. Shakespeare’s sources for the play were the biographies of Brutus and Caesar included in Pluta...

The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice is based on the Italian short story, Un Capitano Moro by Cinthio, and follows the Moorish general Othello, as well as his wife, Desdemona, his lieutenant, Cassio, and his ensign, lago. The tale is full of deception and betrayal as lago schemes to destroy Othello’s marriage. With strong themes of racism, love, jealousy, and betrayal, Othello has remained a popular and relevant play since it was first published in 1565.

Shakespeare in Autumn: Select Plays and the Complete Sonnets, by William Shakespeare, the greatest writer in the English language, is available in a fine exclusive collector’s edition featuring a laser-cut jacket on a textured book with foil stamping, making it ideal for fiction lovers and book collectors alike. Each collectible volume will be the perfect addition to any well-appointed library.

The Comedy of Errors is Shakespeare’s shortest play. Full of farces, puns, and slapstick humor, the brief play was designed to purely entertain. It is also one of Shakespeare’s only two plays that follow Aristotle’s classical unities. The story follows two sets of identical twins who were separated from their twins at birth. When one pair runs into the families of their brothers, the mistaken identities and chaos begins.

The Life of King Henry V is a historical play which follows the story of the King of England, Henry V. It covers the events before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War in 1415. Audiences who saw the plays based on the life of Henry IV knew Henry V as “Prince Harry” or “Hal.” Here, the untamed boy they knew became a man and the conqueror of France.

The Life of King Henry V is a historical play which follows the story of the King of England, Henry V. It covers the events before and after the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years’ War in 1415. Audiences who saw the plays based on the life of Henry IV knew Henry V as “Prince Harry” or “Hal.” Here, the untamed boy they knew became a man and the conqueror of France.

All’s Well That Ends Well is a play of uncertain classification. It has often been declared a comedy, though containing elements of both tragedy and comedy, it doesn’t truly fall under either category and is often called a “problem play.” Focusing on the relationship between Bertram and Helena, the play is full of grief, deception, often one-sided romance, and trickery.