He's indisputably the greatest writer in the English language, a master of every mood from sidesplitting comedy (Twelfth Night) to profound tragedy (King Lear) to the historically majestic (Henry V). Every bookshelf must have a complete collection of his 38 plays, his magnificent and passionate sonnets, and his epic poems. Here they all are in one 1,024-page, yet compact and low-cost hardcover, sturdy enough to withstand students poring through its pages for classes and exams; theatergoers refreshing their acquaintance with a favorite play before seeing it performed; and literature lovers picking it up again and again simply for pleasure. Every time you return to Shakespeare's elegantly phrased lines, and his rich and complex characters, you'll find something new to treasure.
