Author(s): Michael Best

Poetry

The beauty and meaning behind his poetry and prose has meant that Shakespeare's work has lived on throughout history long after his death. We still fall in love and become passionate, or jealous, or dim-witted, or melancholy, or dreamy, or vengeful, or courageous on behalf of a loved one. We still use language with outlandish imagery or moving simplicity of expression to attempt the impossible - that is, distil the essence of love into words. Shakespeare achieved this alchemy of the imagination as no other writer before or since. Here, in a beautiful volume to treasure, we offer wonderful words on love in all its moods, in verse and prose, from the poetry and the plays - with a brilliantly illuminating introduction and commentary from a Shakespeare scholar. From the star-crossed Romeo and Juliet, and the witty Benedick and Beatrice, to the broody passion of Othello and the Dark Lady of the sonnets, there is so much here to admire, enjoy and be moved by.