Bate, Jonathan

A brief introduction to English literature that traces its history and development, highlighting important authors and works, describing various styles, and exploring how literary texts change over time.

A history of Shakespeare's plays as they have been performed on the English stage, presented through a series of essays by a variety of authors, discussing the theatres, the plays, and the men and women who staged, adapted, and performed them over the course of 400 years, from the fifteenth century through modern times.

Profiles the works of Shakespeare and discusses how his ideas and writings developed, how they affected future generations, why people think the plays were not written by Shakespeare, and other related topics.

Draws on the list of man's seven ages found in William Shakespeare's play "As You Like It" to highlight key events in the playwright's life and explore their impact on the Bard's work.