17th century

Since its publication in the late sixteenth century, The Taming of the Shrew has been staged, filmed, and reinterpreted countless times. This beloved Shakespearean comedy is still celebrated today, though unlike the audiences in Shakespeare's time, contemporary audiences share their responses to the play on social media! Reading Shakespeare Today: The Taming of the Shrew provides historical context for the play, reviews the themes and motifs that make it timeless, and investigates how the comedy fits into our modern world.

A tale of magic, power struggles, and intrigue, The Tempest is one of Shakespeare's final plays. Reading Shakespeare Today: The Tempest explores the plot of The Tempest while considering the blend of comedic and tragic elements that make it unique. The book also demonstrates ways that the play continues to be relevant in the internet age.

William Shakespeare wrote Twelfth Night for Epiphany, the twelfth day after Christmas. The comedy features ingenious plot twists, colorful characters, and slapstick humor. Reading Shakespeare Today: Twelfth Night examines each scene of the play, Shakespeare's use of language, modern stagings, and the history behind Twelfth Night to present a comprehensive picture of this classic.

Brief text, sidebars, labeled illustrations, and humorous cartoons depict what it was like to be a Shakespearean actor during the sixteenth century.

Provides information about the jobs people had during colonial times in America, how they learned the skills they needed, how jobs were chosen, and how modern work compares with that of the colonists.

A simple introduction to various jobs in Colonial America, including those performed by blacksmiths, coopers, and shoemakers.

Presents, in graphic novel format, the life of a Colonial printer.

Profiles major documents from important figures and events of the 1600s, from the Scientific Revolution to the exploration of the New World and more.

A biography of English physician William Harvey whose theory of blood circulation challenged centuries of anatomical and physiological orthodoxy.