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Reading lists

Where to start reading poetry (again)

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What book to read, based on your favourite rom-com

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Books to help cope with the heat

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Features

The best literary quotes about summer

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15 songs about books for your summer playlist

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5 London pubs with legendary literary histories

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Literature's strangest real-life mysteries 

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The curse of Macbeth: is it more that superstition?

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The curse of Macbeth: is it more than superstition?

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8 literary mazes to explore

Nine brilliant pieces of gender-bending fiction

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9 brilliant pieces of gender bending fiction

A Midsummer Night's Dream colouring adventure

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Extracts

A Midsummer Night’s Dream colouring adventure

Six iconic moments of Shakespeare you should hear

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Sonnets

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, and was baptised on 26 April 1564. His father was a glove maker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a well-to-do local land owner. Shakespeare was probably educated in Stratford’s grammar school. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, and the couple had a daughter the following year and twins in 1585. 
 
Shakespeare’s theatrical life seems to have commenced around 1590. We do know that he was part of the Lord Chamberlain’s Company, which was renamed the King’s Company in 1603 when James I succeeded to the throne. The Company acquired interests in two theatres in the Southwark area of London, near the banks of the Thames - the Globe and the Blackfriars. 
 
Shakespeare’s poetry was published before his plays, with two poems appearing in 1593 and 1594, dedicated to his patron Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets were probably written at this time as well. 
 
Records of Shakespeare’s plays begin to appear in 1594, and he produced roughly two a year until around 1611. His earliest plays include Henry VI and Titus Andronicus. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Richard II all date from the mid to late 1590s. Some of his most famous tragedies were written in the early 1600s; these include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony & Cleopatra. His late plays, often known as the Romances, date from 1608 onwards and include The Tempest. 
 
Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623 and is known as ‘the First Folio’.

A beautiful deluxe gift edition of Shakespeare's immortal poems with foiled covers, marbled endpapers, sprayed edges, beautiful paper and finished with a silk ribbon. 
 
Love sonnets are for romantics, starry-eyed lovers and ardent hearts. And Shakespeare's sonnets are the best ever written. But this is why they are also for cynics, for star-crossed lovers and for those who know the anguish of unrequited love. Some appear to be written to a young man, some to a woman. And although the poems are full of mystery – why did Shakespeare write them, and to whom? – each one speaks to us from across the centuries of love, hate and the intensity of being alive. 
 
This hardback is part of VINTAGE COLLECTOR’S CLASSICS, a series of luxurious books especially crafted for collectors and fans of beautiful special editions. Sumptuous design meets the highest quality production. Discover timeless classics beautifully bound for every bookshelf.

Classic Love Poems with a Modern Twist

Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Retold

William Shakespeare (Author) 
William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, and was baptised on 26 April 1564. His father was a glove maker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a well-to-do local land owner. Shakespeare was probably educated in Stratford’s grammar school. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, and the couple had a daughter the following year and twins in 1585. 
 
Shakespeare’s theatrical life seems to have commenced around 1590. We do know that he was part of the Lord Chamberlain’s Company, which was renamed the King’s Company in 1603 when James I succeeded to the throne. The Company acquired interests in two theatres in the Southwark area of London, near the banks of the Thames - the Globe and the Blackfriars. 
 
Shakespeare’s poetry was published before his plays, with two poems appearing in 1593 and 1594, dedicated to his patron Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets were probably written at this time as well. 
 
Records of Shakespeare’s plays begin to appear in 1594, and he produced roughly two a year until around 1611. His earliest plays include Henry VI and Titus Andronicus. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Richard II all date from the mid to late 1590s. Some of his most famous tragedies were written in the early 1600s; these include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony & Cleopatra. His late plays, often known as the Romances, date from 1608 onwards and include The Tempest. 
 
Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623 and is known as ‘the First Folio’. 
 
James Anthony (Author) 
James Anthony was born in Essex, and studied Manufacturing Engineering at University. He worked for many years for the Ford Motor Company and has founded a range of procurement start-ups. By night, he writes poetry. 
 
Stephen Fry (Foreword By) 
Stephen Fry is an award-winning comedian, actor, presenter and director. He rose to fame alongside Hugh Laurie in A Bit of Fry and Laurie (which he co-wrote with Laurie) and Jeeves and Wooster, and was unforgettable as General Melchett in Blackadder. He has hosted over 180 episodes of QI, and has narrated all seven of the Harry Potter novels for the audiobook recordings. He is the bestselling author of four novels - The Stars' Tennis Balls, Making History, The Hippopotamus and The Liar - as well as three volumes of autobiography - Moab is My Washpot, The Fry Chronicles and More Fool Me. Mythos and Heroes, his retelling of the Greek myths, are both Sunday Times bestsellers.

'James Anthony has done something I would have confidently stated to be impossible. He has "translated" Shakespeare’s sonnets and he has done so with an insolent, loveable charm … A dazzling success’ – Stephen Fry 
 
Rediscover the greatest love poetry ever written 
 
Shall I compare you to a summer’s day? 
You’re more delightful, always shining strong; 
High winds blow hard on flowering buds in May, 
And summer never seems to last that long… 
 
 
Shakespeare’s sonnets are some of the nation’s favourite lines of verse, but the Elizabethan language can make it difficult to really understand them. Many guides offer to clarify the meaning, but lose the magic of the words by explaining them away. 
 
James Anthony has done something boldly different. 
 
He has rewritten the whole series of poems as sonnets using modern language, while retaining the rhythm and rhyme patterns that gives them such power. In doing so he breathes new life into the original poems and opens them up for a modern readership, demystifying Shakespeare’s eternal poetry with provocative new translations and delightful new lines. 
 
Presented as an attractive book with the original sonnets facing their new translations, this is a stunning collection of beautiful love poems, made new.

Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth

Four Tragedies

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Shakespeare's four greatest tragedies – Macbeth, King Lear, Hamlet and Othello – in a stunning Penguin Clothbound Classics edition 
 
The theme of the great Shakespearean tragedies is a hero's fall from grace due to a fatal character flaw. Whether it is the ruthless ambition of Macbeth or the folly of Lear, the irresolution of Hamlet or the suspicion of Othello, the cause of the tragedy – even when it is the murder of a king – is trifling compared to the calamity that it unleashes. Despite their flawed natures, however, the tragic protagonists all have a nobility that emphasizes the greatness of humanity. From this paradox the audience is brought to a greater understanding of – and sympathy with – suffering. 
 
The four tragedies in this collection are accompanied by notes and an introduction to each text.

William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced, including Romeo and Juliet (1595), Henry V (1599), Hamlet (1601), Othello (1604), King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (1606), as well as a collection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influential love poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616.

The theme of the great Shakespearean tragedies is a hero's fall from grace due to a fatal character flaw. Whether it is the ruthless ambition of Macbeth or the folly of Lear, the irresolution of Hamlet or the suspicion of Othello, the cause of the tragedy – even when it is the murder of a king – is trifling compared to the calamity that it unleashes. Despite their flawed natures, however, the tragic protagonists all have a nobility that emphasizes the greatness of humanity. From this paradox the audience is brought to a greater understanding of – and sympathy with – suffering. 
 
The four tragedies in this collection are accompanied by notes and an introduction to each text.

A BBC Radio Collection

Sir Lenny Henry’s Journey to Othello

Three BBC Radio programmes charting Sir Lenny Henry’s transformation from comic actor to tragic hero – including the complete full-cast production of Shakespeare’s OthelloLenny Henry used to hate Shakespeare. For over 35 years he avoided anything to do with the Bard – until, in 2006, he decided to find out just what the rest of the world saw in him. In this enthralling collection, we hear how Lenny’s late-flowering passion for the legendary playwright’s works set him on the path that led to his sell-out stage debut as Othello. Bringing together this behind-the-scenes journey with the final result, this collection culminates in Lenny’s standout performance in a dynamic full-cast radio production of Othello. Lenny and Will sees him going ‘in search of the magic of Shakespeare in performance’, starting at the recreated Globe Theatre. Talking to leading actors and directors including Adrian Lester, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Dominic Dromgoole and Patsy Rodenburg, he wonders why we put Shakespeare on a pedestal, and confesses to a newfound enthusiasm for his classic dramas. And, after reciting Othello’s last speech to Northern Broadside’s Barrie Rutter, he begins to wonder if he could take on the role for real...Lenny Henry Plays Othello takes up the story where Lenny and Will left off, continuing Lenny’s personal odyssey. Having been offered the chance of a lifetime by Barrie Rutter, he sets out on a long road of preparation. Listening to his audio diary, we hear his hopes and fears – and eavesdrop on everything from coaching sessions to boot fittings. From first rehearsals to curtain up, we follow his remarkable metamorphosis into Shakespeare’s betrayed Moorish general.Finally, in Lenny Henry in Othello, we hear Lenny’s acclaimed performance as the noble African commander whose mind is poisoned by the hate-filled Iago: a stunning achievement that won him the Evening Standard’s Outstanding Newcomer Award. Featuring the cast of the acclaimed West End production and with original music from Conrad Nelson, who also plays Iago, this mesmerising tale of love, jealousy, racism and desire will grip you from start to tragic finish. Cast and creditsLenny and WillPresented by Lenny HenryProduced by Simon ElmesWith Adrian Lester, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Peter Hall, Trevor Nunn, Barrie Rutter, Dominic Dromgoole and Patsy RodenburgFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 Mar 2006 and 23 Dec 2006Lenny Henry Plays OthelloProduced by Simon ElmesFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Feb 2009Lenny Henry in OthelloIago – Conrad NelsonRoderigo – Matt ConnorBrabantio – Geoff LeesleyOthello – Lenny HenryCassio – Richard StandingDuke/Gratiano – David BeckfordSenator/Lodovico – Simon Holland RobertsDesdemona – Jessica HarrisMontano – Andy CryerEmilia – Sara PoyzerHerald/Gentleman – Chris PearseBianca – Victoria GeeWritten by William ShakespeareDirected by Barrie RutterProduced by David HunterMusic arranged by Conrad Nelson and performed by the castOriginal stage production created by Northern Broadsides and West Yorkshire Playhouse and staged in London by Sonia Friedman ProductionsFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 Feb 2010© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Lenny Henry (Author, Reader) 
One of Britain's best-loved personalities, actor and comedian Lenny Henry has appeared in numerous radio and TV series. His television credits include Three of a Kind and The Lenny Henry Show, while radio credits include Anansi Boys, Lenny & Will and Bad Faith. He has also starred in several theatre productions of Shakespeare's plays, including Othello and The Comedy of Errors.

Five Full-Cast Dramatisations Including Macbeth, Emma & The Great Gatsby

Anti-Heroes: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

BBC radio dramatisations of classic novels centred around engaging anti-heroes who dominate high societyAmbitious. Ruthless. Unprincipled. With their blurred morals and relatable imperfections, it’s no wonder we find anti-heroes so appealing and fascinating. Featuring a mixture of male and female anti-heroes across England, Scotland, France and New York, these fantastic adaptations of five of the best-known and best-loved classics of literature follow some of these flawed, nuanced characters as they steal the spotlight and make their presence known.Macbeth – Scottish general Macbeth’s life is changed when he encounters three witches who predict that he will become the king of Scotland. Encouraged by his forceful wife, he proceeds to fulfil the prophecy, but descends into madness and tyranny... This thrilling production of William Shakespeare's dark tragedy about ambition for power stars Neil Dudgeon and Emma Fielding.The Count of Monte Cristo – Marseilles, 1815. Nineteen-year-old seaman Edmond Dantès is engaged to the beautiful Mercédès and about to be promoted to Captain. But when three acquaintances betray him, he is condemned to 14 years of solitary confinement in the Chateau D'If. Escaping the notorious prison, Dantès plots his enemies’ destruction… Iain Glen stars in Alexandre Dumas’s swashbuckling tale of revenge.Emma – Handsome, clever and rich, Emma Woodhouse is so blessed by life that she declares she will never marry. However, she is determined to find the right match for her new friend Harriet Smith. Eve Best stars in this adaptation of Jane Austen's sparkling comedy of young love and romantic meddling.Vanity Fair – Thackeray's deliciously ironic tale of passion and ambition, set against the backdrop of the Napoleonic Wars, follows the fortunes of penniless, social-climbing Becky Sharp and her wealthy, sweet-natured best friend, Amelia Sedley. Starring Stephen Fry as the Narrator, with Emma Fielding as Becky, Katy Cavanagh as Amelia and Toby Jones as Jos.The Great Gatsby – Arriving in Long Island, Nick Carraway is reacquainted with his distant cousin, Daisy Buchanan, and falls in with her wealthy crowd. His neighbour, self-made millionaire Jay Gatsby, is the man who has everything – but one thing will always be out of his reach... A portrait of the Jazz Age in all of its decadence and excess, this dramatisation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's seminal novel stars Bryan Dick and Andrew Scott.Credits MacbethWritten by William ShakespeareDirected by Marc BeebyComposer: Timothy X AtackSound design by Colin GuthrieFirst broadcast BBC Radio 3, 17 May 2015The Count of Monte CristoWritten by Alexandre DumasAdapted by Sebastian BaczkiewiczDirected by Jeremy Mortimer and Sasha YevtushenkoMusic by David Tobin and Jeff MeeganFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 25 November–16 December 2012EmmaWritten by Jane AustenDramatised by April de AngelisDirected by Jonquil PantingMusic: Martin Souter and Sarah StoweFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 26 November–3 December 2000Vanity FairWritten by William Makepeace ThackerayDramatised by Stephen WyattProduced by Claire GroveFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 13 September–8 October 2004The Great GatsbyWritten by F. Scott FitzgeraldDramatised by Robert ForrestDirected by Gaynor MacFarlaneFirst broadcast BBC Radio 4, 6–13 May 2012© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd.

William Shakespeare (Author) William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced, including Romeo and Juliet (1595), Henry V (1599), Hamlet (1601), Othello (1604), King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (1606), as well as a collection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influential love poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616. Jane Austen (Author) Jane Austen was born in Steventon rectory on 16 December 1775. Her family later moved to Bath, then to Southampton and finally to Chawton in Hampshire. She began writing Pride and Prejudice when she was twenty-two years old. It was originally called First Impressions and was initially rejected by the publishers and only published in 1813 after much revision. She published four of her novels in her lifetime, Sense and Sensibility (1811), Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1816). Jane Austen died on 18th July 1817. Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were both published posthumously in 1818. F. Scott Fitzgerald (Author) Francis Scott Fitzgerald was born in 1896 in Saint Paul, Minnesota. He is best known for his novels depicting the flamboyance and excess of the Jazz Age – a term he popularized in his short story collection Tales of the Jazz Age. His first novel, This Side of Paradise, was published in 1920 and was a tremendous critical and commercial success. Fitzgerald followed with The Beautiful and the Damned, The Great Gatsby and Tender is the Night . He was working on The Last Tycoon when he died, in Hollywood, in 1940.

Five Full-Cast Dramatisations Including Othello, The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde & The Picture of Dorian Gray

Immorality Unmasked: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

BBC radio dramatisations of classic novels featuring some of literature’s most devious and compelling villainsCunning. Corrupt. Charismatic. The degenerate characters in this collection shun conventional morality, and will stop at nothing to get what they want... These five sensational dramas, set in locations ranging from 16th century Venice to Victorian England, revolve around their unscrupulous actions – and the devastating consequences of the choices they make.Othello – Lenny Henry stars in this acclaimed production of Shakespeare's great tragedy of love turned sour by unfounded jealousy. Othello is a brave general and a noble man – but the evil manipulations of his lieutenant, Iago (Conrad Nelson) provoke his descent into deluded rage.The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde – Introduced by David Tennant, this fast-moving dramatisation tells the disturbing tale of a scientist who experiments on himself to release his uncontrollable dark side, and of the lawyer’s daughter determined to bring him to book. Starring Stuart MacQuarrie, John Dougall and Madeleine Worrell.The Picture of Dorian Gray – Vain, hedonistic aristocrat Dorian Gray makes a Faustian pact to preserve his youthful beauty. But after years of decadence and selfish pleasure, is retribution on the horizon? Jamie Glover and Ian McDiarmid star in this adaptation of Oscar Wilde’s famous novel.Lady Audley’s Secret– Newly married to rich widower Lord Audley, former governess Lucy Graham glories in the delights of her new life. When her scandalous past is discovered, she will dare anything to preserve the security and wealth she has gained… Starring Hattie Morahan, Charlotte Emerson and Alex Wyndham, this thrilling serial retains all the mystery and suspense of Mary Elizabeth Braddon’s Gothic ‘sensation novel’.Confessions of a Justified Sinner – Robert Colwan believes he is destined for salvation no matter what crimes he commits. If you can kill without paying the price, how murderous can you become? And what, if anything, does that do to your psyche? Lorn Macdonald stars in this tense, eerie reimagining of James Hogg’s seminal novel about a young man radicalised by religious fanaticism.Content listOthelloWritten by William Shakespeare 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 27 Feb 2010The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr HydeWritten by Robert Louis Stevenson 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 Nov 2016The Picture of Dorian GrayWritten by Oscar Wilde 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 30 Jan-6 Feb 2000Lady Audley’s SecretWritten by Mary Elizabeth Braddon 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 20 Apr-1 May 2009Confessions of a Justified SinnerWritten by James Hogg 
First broadcast BBC Radio 4, 19 Mar 2023© 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd. (P) 2024 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Staged: the origins of YA’s greatest tropes

Much Ado About Nothing

With a foreword by Holly Bourne, author of Am I Normal Yet? 
 ‘I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest’ 
 Love, deception and discord are flourishing in the court of Messina. 
 Sweet, innocent Hero and the famed soldier Claudio are immediately infatuated, while the bickering Beatrice and Benedick can agree on just one thing: the other is insufferable. Little do they know, two plans are afoot – one to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love, another to break up Hero and Claudio. 
 Much Ado About Nothing is Shakespeare’s witty comedy of words where sharp-tongued enemies become lovers and sweet romance turns sour. 
 Discover STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays that celebrates the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day. 
 Explore the rest of the STAGED collection:As You Like It – With a foreword by Talia HibbertHamlet – With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéMacbeth – With a foreword by Kat DelacorteA Midsummer Night’s Dream – With a foreword by Becky AlbertalliRomeo and Juliet – With a foreword by Jennifer Niven

‘I love you with so much of my heart that none is left to protest.’ 
 
Love, deception and discord are flourishing in the court of Messina. 
 
Sweet, innocent Hero and the famed soldier Claudio are immediately infatuated, while the bickering Beatrice and Benedick can agree on just one thing: the other is insufferable. Little do they know, two plans are afoot – one to make Beatrice and Benedick fall in love, another to break up Hero and Claudio. 
 
Offering the complete and unabridged text, set in a dyslexic-friendly font and introduced by renowned YA authors, this beautifully designed collection is the perfect way to introduce YA readers to Shakespeare's most iconic stories.

Romeo and Juliet

With a foreword by Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places and Breathless 
 
‘For never was a story of more woe 
 Than this of Juliet and her Romeo’ 
 A bloody feud. A tangled love. A senseless tragedy that brings two families to their knees. 
 
 After a chance meeting at a ball, Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall desperately in love. But their families are locked in a bitter rivalry, their love forbidden. Worse still, Juliet’s family already expect her to marry her suitor, Count Paris. 
 Determined to save their love, Romeo and Juliet wed in secret. But when a fight erupts that leaves Montagues and Capulets dead, Romeo is banished from Verona, forcing Juliet to take desperate measures that spell tragedy for the star-crossed lovers. 
 Romeo and Juliet is Shakespeare’s masterclass in tales of love and loss, and the origin of the lovestruck, star-crossed lovers. 
 Discover STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays that celebrates the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day. 
 Explore the rest of the STAGED collection:As You Like It – With a foreword by Talia HibbertHamlet – With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéMacbeth – With a foreword by Kat DelacorteA Midsummer Night’s Dream – With a foreword by Becky AlbertalliMuch Ado About Nothing – With a foreword by Holly Bourne

With a foreword by Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places and Breathless 
&lsquo;For never was a story of more woe than this of Juliet and her Romeo.&rsquo; 
 
A bloody feud. A tangled love. A senseless tragedy that brings two families to their knees. 
 
After a chance meeting at a ball, young Romeo Montague and Juliet Capulet fall desperately in love. But their families are locked in a bitter rivalry, their love forbidden. When blood is spilled, Romeo is banished, forcing Juliet to take desperate measures that spell tragedy for the star-crossed lovers. 
 
Offering the complete and unabridged text, set in a dyslexic-friendly font and introduced by renowned YA authors, this beautifully designed collection is the perfect way to introduce YA readers to Shakespeare's most iconic stories.

Macbeth

With a foreword by Kat Delacorte, author of With Fire in Their Blood 
 ‘It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood’ 
 On a bleak, stormy night in Scotland, three witches prophesy: Macbeth will be a lord twice-over and Macbeth will be king; but Banquo’s sons will also be kings. 
 
 When the witches’ predictions start to come true, the ambitious Lady Macbeth vows to help her husband become King of Scotland and hold on to the throne – by any means necessary. But as the pursuit of power leads them down a dark and bloody path, the Macbeths soon begin to unravel. 
 Macbeth is Shakespeare’s famously blood-soaked tale of greed and prophecy so powerful that superstitions about the curse of ‘The Scottish Play’ continue to this day. 
 Discover STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays that celebrates the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day. 
 Explore the rest of the STAGED collection:As You Like It – With a foreword by Talia HibbertHamlet – With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéA Midsummer Night’s Dream – With a foreword by Becky AlbertalliMuch Ado About Nothing – With a foreword by Holly BourneRomeo and Juliet – With a foreword by Jennifer Niven

‘It will have blood, they say: blood will have blood.’ 
 
On a bleak, stormy night, three witches prophesy: Macbeth will be a lord twice-over, Macbeth will be king, Banquo’s sons will be kings. 
 
When their predictions start to come true, the ambitious Lady Macbeth vows to help her husband become King of Scotland and hold on to the throne – by any means necessary. But as the pursuit of power leads them down a dark and bloody path, the Macbeths begin to unravel. 
 
Offering the complete and unabridged text, set in a dyslexic-friendly font and introduced by renowned YA authors, this beautifully designed collection is the perfect way to introduce YA readers to Shakespeare's most iconic stories.

A Midsummer Night's Dream

With a foreword by Becky Albertalli, author of Imogen, Obviously and Love, Simon 
 
 ‘The course of true love never did run smooth’ 
 Hermia loves Lysander. But she must marry Demetrius or be condemned to life in a convent. Together, Hermia and Lysander plan to elope to escape their fate. But Helena, Hermia’s best friend, secretly loves Demetrius and, hoping to win his heart, tells him about the plan. 
 
 Deep in the forest, the four unlucky lovers cross paths with Oberon, the jilted fairy king. When a powerful, love-inducing flower is put to nefarious use, a case of multiple mistaken identities sets in motion a night of magic and mayhem that could change all of their lives forever. 
 
 A Midsummer Night's Dream is Shakespeare’s magical romantic comedy of trickery, love triangles and mistaken identities. 
 Discover STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays celebrating the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day. 
 Explore the rest of the STAGED collection:As You Like It – With a foreword by Talia HibbertHamlet – With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéMacbeth – With a foreword by Kat DelacorteMuch Ado About Nothing – With a foreword by Holly Bourne 
 Romeo and Juliet – With a foreword by Jennifer Niven

‘The course of true love never did run smooth …’ 
 
Hermia loves Lysander. But she must marry Demetrius or be condemned to life in a convent. Together, they plan to elope to escape their fate. But Helena, Hermia’s best friend, secretly loves Demetrius and, hoping to win his heart, tells him about the plan. 
 
Soon, the four unlucky lovers cross paths with Oberon, the jilted fairy king. When a powerful, love-inducing flower is put to nefarious use, a case of multiple mistaken identities sets in motion a night of magic and mayhem that could change all of their lives forever. 
 
Offering the complete and unabridged text, set in a dyslexic-friendly font and introduced by renowned YA authors, this beautifully designed collection is the perfect way to introduce YA readers to Shakespeare's most iconic stories.

As You Like It

With a foreword by Talia Hibbert, author of Get a Life, Chloe Brown 
 ‘We that are true lovers run into strange capers’ 
 Banished from her ambitious uncle’s court, the lovesick Rosalind flees to the forest with her cousin, Celia. Disguised as the handsome shepherd Ganymede and simple shepherdess Aliena, the two soon meet the dashing Orlando – forced into hiding by a plot against his life, heartbroken at the separation from his beloved Rosalind. 
 
 Fooled by Rosalind’s disguise, Orlando grows close to ‘Ganymede’. But Phoebe, a local shepherdess, also has her eye on Ganymede. As their hopes and dreams entangle, can everyone get what they want? 
 As You Like It is Shakespeare’s brilliant gender swapping, fake dating classic comedy of errors. 
 Discover STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays that celebrates the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day. 
 Explore the rest of the STAGED collection:Hamlet – With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-ÍyímídéMacbeth – With a foreword by Kat DelacorteA Midsummer Night’s Dream – With a foreword by Becky AlbertalliMuch Ado About Nothing – With a foreword by Holly BourneRomeo and Juliet – With a foreword by Jennifer Niven

‘We that are true lovers run into strange capers.’ 
 
Banished from her ambitious uncle’s court, the lovesick Rosalind flees to the forest with her cousin, Celia. Disguised as shepherds, they soon meet the dashing Orlando – forced into hiding by a plot against his life, heartbroken at the separation from his beloved Rosalind. 
 
Oblivious to her identity, Orlando grows close to Rosalind. But a local shepherdess has also fallen for Rosalind. 
 
As their hopes and dreams entangle, can everyone get what they want? 
 
Offering the complete and unabridged text, set in a dyslexic-friendly font and introduced by renowned YA authors, this beautifully designed collection is the perfect way to introduce YA readers to Shakespeare's most iconic stories.

Hamlet

With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, author of Ace of Spades‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark’The King of Denmark is dead. When Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, meets the King’s ghost and discovers he was murdered, he swears vengeance against the killer: his father’s brother, Claudius, who has married Hamlet’s mother and taken the throne. 
 
Furious at this betrayal, Hamlet devises a complex plot to reveal the truth and enact his revenge. But Claudius has a devious plan of his own. Together, they will bring devastation to the entire court.Hamlet is Shakespeare’s timeless story of grief and a revenge so unrelenting that by curtain’s close, all the major players are dead.Discover STAGED, a limited collection of Shakespeare’s unabridged plays that celebrates the genius of the Bard and the tropes that continue to delight YA readers to this day.Explore the rest of the STAGED collection:As You Like It – With a foreword by Talia HibbertMacbeth – With a foreword by Kat DelacorteA Midsummer Night’s Dream – With a foreword by Becky AlbertalliMuch Ado About Nothing – With a foreword by Holly BourneRomeo and Juliet – With a foreword by Jennifer Niven

With a foreword by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé, author of Ace of Spades 
 
‘Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.’ 
 
When Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, discovers his father was murdered, he swears vengeance against the killer: his father’s brother, Claudius, who has married Hamlet’s mother and taken the throne. 
 
Furious at this betrayal, Hamlet devises a complex plot to reveal the truth and enact his revenge. But Claudius has a devious plan of his own. Together, they will bring devastation to the entire court. 
 
Offering the complete and unabridged text, set in a dyslexic-friendly font and introduced by renowned YA authors, this beautifully designed collection is the perfect way to introduce YA readers to Shakespeare's most iconic stories.

Love sonnets are for romantics, starry-eyed lovers and ardent hearts. And Shakespeare's sonnets are the best ever written. But this is why they are also for cynics, for star-crossed lovers and for those who know the anguish of unrequited love. 
 
Some appear to be written to a young man, some to a woman. And although the poems are full of mystery - why did Shakespeare write them, and to whom? - each one speaks to us from across the centuries of love, hate and the intensity of being alive. 
 
INTRODUCED BY ANDREW McMILLAN 
 
'This is a crazy, all-consuming, feverish and sweaty love; love, in all its uncut, full-strength intensity; an adolescent love' Don Paterson, Guardian

Abridged Edition

Penguin Readers Level 1: Macbeth (ELT Graded Reader)

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. 
 
Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. 
 
The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. 
 
Visit the Penguin Readers website 
Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys. 
 
Macbeth meets three witches. They can see into the future. They tell Macbeth, "You are King of Scotland in the future." Are they right? Can Macbeth be king?

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. 
 
Macbeth, a Level 1 Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, introducing the past simple tense and some simple modals, adverbs and gerunds. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels. 
 
Macbeth meets three witches. They can see into the future. They tell Macbeth, "You are King of Scotland in the future." Are they right? Can Macbeth be king?

BBC Radio Shakespeare

The Winter's Tale

Eve Best, Danny Sapani and Shaun Dooley star in this modern, riveting and magical production of The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare 
 
The Winter's Tale treads new dramatic ground embracing tragedy, poetry, folklore, magic realism, music, comedy and the infamous stage direction "exit pursued by a bear". One of Shakespeare's mesmerising later productions, often considered a 'problem play' as it starts with a tragedy and ends in a romance 
 
The story starts with the consuming jealousy of King Leontes of Sicilia towards his wife Hermione and his childhood friend King Polixenes of Bohemia. Believing they are lovers and the child she is carrying is illegitimate, Leontes begins a destructive path: the breaking of his marriage and the abandonment of his child 
 
What seems hopeless, tragic and irreconcilable changes in Act 2 where jealousy and actions arouse a passionate sense of honour, love, justice and self-sacrifice in members of his court and family. The baby, Perdita, is raised by a shepherd, unaware of her royal heritage. It seems she will never discover the truth of her birth, but when Prince Florizel sees her and falls in love, it seems fate has other ideas.... 
 
This production brings together a star cast and includes an original folk music score by award-winning musicians Lisa Knapp and Tim Van Eyken 
 
Production Credits 
 
Written by William Shakespeare 
Music composed by Tim Van Eyken and singer Lisa Knapp 
Director: David Hunter 
First Broadcast BBC Radio 3 on the 1st May 2016 as part of The Shakespeare Sessions series 
 
Cast List 
Leontes ... Danny Sapani 
Hermione ... Eve Best 
Polixenes ... Shaun Dooley 
Camillo... Karl Johnson 
Paulina... Susan Jameson 
Shepherd... Paul Copley 
Perdita... Faye Castelow 
Autolycus... Tim Van Eyken 
Florizel... Will Howard 
Mamillius... Charlie Brand 
Archidamus...Sean Baker 
Antigonus... Brian Protheroe 
Clown...Sam Rix 
Emilia...Scarlett Brookes 
Cleomenes...Richard Pepple 
Dion...Nick Underwood 
First Lady...Adie Allen 
Mopsa...Nicola Ferguson 
First Lord.. James Lailey 
Mariner...Sargon Yelda 
Officer...Ewan Bailey

Eve Best, Danny Sapani and Shaun Dooley star in this modern, riveting and magical production of The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare 
 
The Winter's Tale treads new dramatic ground embracing tragedy, poetry, folklore, magic realism, music, comedy and the infamous stage direction "exit pursued by a bear". One of Shakespeare's mesmerising later productions, often considered a 'problem play' as it starts with a tragedy and ends in a romance 
 
The story starts with the consuming jealousy of King Leontes of Sicilia towards his wife Hermione and his childhood friend King Polixenes of Bohemia. Believing they are lovers and the child she is carrying is illegitimate, Leontes begins a destructive path: the breaking of his marriage and the abandonment of his child 
 
What seems hopeless, tragic and irreconcilable changes in Act 2 where jealousy and actions arouse a passionate sense of honour, love, justice and self-sacrifice in members of his court and family. The baby, Perdita, is raised by a shepherd, unaware of her royal heritage. It seems she will never discover the truth of her birth, but when Prince Florizel sees her and falls in love, it seems fate has other ideas.... 
 
This production brings together a star cast and includes an original folk music score by award-winning musicians Lisa Knapp and Tim Van Eyken 
 
Production Credits 
 
Written by William Shakespeare 
Music composed by Tim Van Eyken and singer Lisa Knapp 
Director: David Hunter 
 First Broadcast BBC Radio 3 on the 1st May 2016 as part of The Shakespeare Sessions series 
 
Cast List 
Leontes ... Danny Sapani 
Hermione ... Eve Best 
Polixenes ... Shaun Dooley 
Camillo... Karl Johnson 
Paulina... Susan Jameson 
Shepherd... Paul Copley 
Perdita... Faye Castelow 
Autolycus... Tim Van Eyken 
Florizel... Will Howard 
Mamillius... Charlie Brand 
Archidamus...Sean Baker 
Antigonus... Brian Protheroe 
Clown...Sam Rix 
Emilia...Scarlett Brookes 
Cleomenes...Richard Pepple 
Dion...Nick Underwood 
First Lady...Adie Allen 
Mopsa...Nicola Ferguson 
First Lord.. James Lailey 
Mariner...Sargon Yelda 
Officer...Ewan Bailey

BBC Radio Shakespeare: A Collection of Three Roman Plays

Three of Shakespeare's Roman plays from BBC Radio

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, and was baptised on 26 April 1564. His father was a glove maker and wool merchant and his mother, Mary Arden, was the daughter of a well-to-do local land owner. Shakespeare was probably educated in Stratford’s grammar school. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, and the couple had a daughter the following year and twins in 1585. 
 
Shakespeare’s theatrical life seems to have commenced around 1590. We do know that he was part of the Lord Chamberlain’s Company, which was renamed the King’s Company in 1603 when James I succeeded to the throne. The Company acquired interests in two theatres in the Southwark area of London, near the banks of the Thames - the Globe and the Blackfriars. 
 
Shakespeare’s poetry was published before his plays, with two poems appearing in 1593 and 1594, dedicated to his patron Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. Most of Shakespeare’s sonnets were probably written at this time as well. 
 
Records of Shakespeare’s plays begin to appear in 1594, and he produced roughly two a year until around 1611. His earliest plays include Henry VI and Titus Andronicus. A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice and Richard II all date from the mid to late 1590s. Some of his most famous tragedies were written in the early 1600s; these include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Antony &amp; Cleopatra. His late plays, often known as the Romances, date from 1608 onwards and include The Tempest. 
 
Shakespeare died on 23 April 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623 and is known as ‘the First Folio’.

Three full-cast BBC Radio productions of Shakespeare's most famous Roman plays 
 
Featuring all-star casts and introduced by Sir Richard Eyre, these three iconic productions of Shakespeare's dynamic Roman histories are full of political intrigue, passion and tragedy. 
 
Julius Caesar 
This updated version of Shakespeare's classic play is set in Italy in 1925. Julius Caesar, a new Roman dictator, has swept to power, and his way is clear to assume total control - unless a coup by Cassius and Brutus can alter the tide of history. Nicholas Farrell stars as Brutus and Gerard Murphy as Julius Caesar. 
 
Coriolanus 
When Rome's greatest hero, the warrior Coriolanus, divides the people and the patricians through his arrogance, he is driven into exile. Samuel West stars as Coriolanus, with Susannah York as Volumnia. 
 
Antony and Cleopatra 
Shakespeare's last great tragedy is an action epic set against the political backdrop of the Roman Empire and the centre of Egyptian culture, Alexandria. But at the heart of the play is the story of what happens when two people fall in love. Starring Frances Barber as Cleopatra and David Harewood as Mark Antony.

BBC Radio Shakespeare: A Collection of Eight Comedies

A BBC Radio Collection of eight Shakespeare comedies

Eight full-cast BBC Radio productions of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies 
 
Full of merriment, mayhem, mischief and mistaken identity, here are eight iconic radio productions of Shakespeare's most magical comedies, featuring star casts and introduced by Sir Richard Eyre. 
 
Much Ado About Nothing 
Shakespeare's delightful comedy sparkles with the verbal sparring of our two reluctant lovers in a world where nothing is quite what it seems. David Tennant and Samantha Spiro star as Benedick and Beatrice. 
 
As You Like It 
The Forest of Arden resonates with declarations of love in this joyous pastoral comedy, starring Helena Bonham Carter as Rosalind, David Morrissey as Orlando and Natasha Little as Celia. 
 
A Midsummer Night's Dream 
In this delightful comic fantasy, four young lovers and a troupe of actors have a bewitching encounter with Fairyland. Starring David Threlfall as Theseus/Oberon, Sylvestra Le Touzel as Titania/Hippolyta and Amanda Root as Hermia. 
 
The Merchant of Venice 
Shakespeare's thrilling courtroom drama explores the eternal themes of love and hate, mercy and justice. Starring Warren Mitchell as Shylock, with Martin Jarvis as Antonio, Juliet Aubrey as Portia and Samuel West as Bassanio. 
 
Twelfth Night 
On the night when all the world is turned on its head, girls become boys and women lust after women, in this most optimistic of Shakespeare's comedies. Michael Maloney stars as Orsino and Anne-Marie Duff as Viola. 
 
The Tempest 
A ship at sea and an enchanted island are the settings for this allegorical tale of betrayal, sorcery, revenge and reconciliation. Starring Philip Madoc as Prospero and Nina Wadia as Ariel. 
 
The Taming of the Shrew 
Farce, disguise, elaborate role-playing and acerbic exchanges of wit combine to make up an extraordinary love story that still sparks controversy 400 years after it was written. Gerard McSorley stars as Petruchio and Ruth Mitchell as Katherina. 
 
All's Well That Ends Well 
This intriguing play tells of the questionable course of action a young woman takes to win the hand of the man she loves. Emma Fielding stars as Helena, with Siân Phillips, Miriam Margolyes, Richard Griffiths and Simon Russell Beale.

BBC Radio Shakespeare: A Collection of Six Tragedies

A collection of six tragedy plays by Shakespeare, produced by the BBC

Six full-cast BBC Radio productions of Shakespeare's classic tragedies 
 
Treachery, betrayal and fatal power struggles are among the themes of these six iconic productions of Shakespeare's timeless tragedies. Featuring all-star casts, they are introduced by Sir Richard Eyre. 
 
Hamlet 
Shakespeare's powerfully poetic tragedy of murder, madness and revenge stars Michael Sheen as the Prince of Denmark, with Kenneth Cranham as Claudius and Juliet Stevenson as Gertrude. 
 
Macbeth 
In this notorious 'Scottish play', a lust for power and the prophecy of three witches transform a brave nobleman into a traitor and murderous tyrant. Ken Stott stars as Macbeth and Phyllis Logan as Lady Macbeth. 
 
King Lear 
The tragic consequences of evil triumphing over truth, and of the vanity of old age, are set in motion when Lear banishes his favourite daughter, Cordelia, from court. Starring Corin Redgrave as King Lear, with David Troughton, Geraldine James and Robert Glenister. 
 
Othello 
Evil cunning perverts a once noble mind, as heroic general Othello is destroyed by both his own jealousy and the machinations of the devious Iago. Ray Fearon stars as Othello, with James Frain as Iago. 
 
Romeo and Juliet 
An updated version of Shakespeare's tragedy of feuding families and doomed love, set in modern Verona and starring Douglas Henshall as Romeo and Sophie Dahl as Juliet. 
 
Cymbeline 
When Cymbeline discovers his daughter Imogen's secret marriage to Posthumus, he banishes her husband. But Posthumus's boasts of his wife's chastity provoke lachimo to attempt her seduction. Bill Wallis stars as Cymbeline.

BBC Radio Shakespeare: A Collection of Four History Plays

Four of Shakespeare's History plays from BBC Radio

Four full-cast BBC Radio productions of Shakespeare's finest history plays 
 
Introduced by Sir Richard Eyre, these four iconic productions, featuring star casts, bring Shakespeare's gripping histories to life in all their rich complexity. 
 
Henry IV, Part One 
Young Prince Hal struggles with his responsibilities as heir to the throne, preferring the company of the dissolute Falstaff. But when England is threatened with rebellion, will he do his duty? Father and son Julian Glover and Jamie Glover star as King Henry and Prince Hal, with Timothy West as Falstaff. 
 
Henry IV, Part Two 
The realm is still in danger, and the King is dying. It is time for Prince Hal to fulfil his royal destiny - but what will become of his old friend, Falstaff? Starring Julian Glover, Jamie Glover and Timothy West. 
 
Richard II 
This lyrically tragic history encompasses themes of nobility and kingship, as King Richard is brought to his own destruction - but was he justly punished for his excesses, or a misunderstood victim? Samuel West stars as Richard II, with Joss Ackland as John of Gaunt and Damian Lewis as Bolingbroke. 
 
Pericles 
Featuring world music and a multicultural cast, this timeless tale with a contemporary twist features tyrants, incest, murder, young love, and a great hero cruelly separated from his wife and daughter. Will he ever see them again? Benjamin Zephaniah stars as the narrator, Gower.

Penguin Readers Starter Level: Romeo and Juliet (ELT Graded Reader)

Penguin Readers is an ELT graded reader series for learners of English as a foreign language. With carefully adapted text, new illustrations and language learning exercises, the print edition also includes instructions to access supporting material online. 
 
Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction, introducing language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. 
 
The eight levels of Penguin Readers follow the Common European Framework of Reference for language learning (CEFR). Exercises at the back of each Reader help language learners to practise grammar, vocabulary, and key exam skills. Before, during and after-reading questions test readers' story comprehension and develop vocabulary. 
 
Visit the Penguin Readers website 
Exclusively with the print edition, readers can unlock online resources including a digital book, audio edition, lesson plans and answer keys. 
 
There is no sun this morning. It is not here. It is sad for Juliet and her Romeo. 
Romeo loves Juliet and Juliet loves Romeo. But their families are enemies and they cannot marry.

Ladybird (Author) We make growing up the best story ever! Here at Ladybird, we publish playful books for little hands. From touch-and-feel books to bedtime stories and non-fiction, we help 0-7s to learn, play and grow - sparking plenty of smiles along the way. The home of Ten Minutes to Bed, Baby Touch, Peppa Pig and Hey Duggee, we know just how to capture curious little imaginations and guide them from one story to the next. William Shakespeare (Author) William Shakespeare was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced, including Romeo and Juliet (1595), Henry V (1599), Hamlet (1601), Othello (1604), King Lear (1606) and Macbeth (1606), as well as a collection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influential love poetry in English. Shakespeare died in Stratford in 1616.

With carefully adapted text, new illustrations, language practise activities and additional online resources, the Penguin Readers series introduces language learners to bestselling authors and compelling content. Titles include popular classics, exciting contemporary fiction, and thought-provoking non-fiction. 
 
Romeo and Juliet, a Starter level Reader, is A1 in the CEFR framework. Starter level is ideal for readers who are learning English for the first time. Short sentences contain a maximum of two clauses, using the present simple and continuous tenses, possessives, regular and irregular verbs, and simple adjectives. Illustrations support the text throughout, and many titles at this level are graphic novels. 
 
There is no sun this morning. It is not here. It is sad for Juliet and her Romeo. 
Romeo loves Juliet and Juliet loves Romeo. But their families are enemies and they cannot marry.

Leo Tolstoy

Charlotte Brönte

Gustave Flaubert

William Shakespeare

Colette

Jane Austen

Alessandro Manzoni

Radclyffe Hall

Emily Brontë

Elizabeth Gaskell

Edith Wharton

Thomas Hardy

Vanessa Kirby

Tom Burke

Rory Kinnear

Toby Jones

John Hurt

David Tennant

Kate Philips

Full Cast

12 Full-Cast Dramatisations including Wuthering Heights, now a major film

Twelve dramatisations of the best love stories ever written, performed by star casts 
 
Treat yourself to this stunning collection of classic stories of love, loss, obstacles overcome and desperate attraction. This is a beautiful, moving and at times thrilling listen which takes you on a journey through the greatest tales of romance ever told. These unmissable, dramatised novels feature stellar performances from fantastic casts including Vanessa Kirby, Hiftu Quasem, Kate Philips, Rory Kinnear, Toby Jones, John Hurt and David Tennant. 
 
Anna Karenina is Leo Tolstoy's powerful drama of desire, transgression and heartache. Starring Kate Philips (Wolf Hall), Alfred Enoch (Harry Potter) and Rory Kinnear (James Bond films). 
 
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë is a fantastic mix of injustice, romance, passion and danger wrapped up in a glorious love story. Starring Amanda Hale (Catastrophe) and Tom Burke (Strike). 
 
Gustave Flaubert’s Madame Bovary is a masterpiece of betrayal and wantonness - the first great novel of adultery. Starring Sarah Smart (Wallander), Jude Akuwudike (Gangs of London) and James D’Arcy (Broadchurch) with John Hurt (Harry Potter) as the Narrator. 
 
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare. In a town full of hatred, where the streets ring with the Capulet-Montague feud and swords are too easily drawn, Romeo and Juliet find each other, fall in love, and never let go. Starring Trystan Gravelle (Mr Selfridge), Vanessa Kirby (Mission Impossible), David Tennant (Broadchurch) and Paul Ready (Motherland). 
 
Chéri by Colette is the story of a love affair between a courtesan and a man half her age, set in Paris before the First World War. Starring Frances Barber (Silk) and Joseph Millson (The Last Kingdom) with Lindsay Duncan (Birdman) as the Narrator. 
 
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen remains one of the world’s favourite novels, dealing with the timeless issues of love, social class and money with a witty, clever - though flawed - heroine at its heart. Starring Pippa Nixon (Unforgotten), Jamie Parker (The Crown) and Toby Jones (The Detectorists). 
 
The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni is an icon of Italian literature: the story of two lovers who want nothing more than to marry but are beset by the hazards of war, bread riots and the machinations of a nameless crime lord. Starring Hiftu Quasem (Killing Eve) and Ian Dunnett Jnr (Masters of the Air). 
 
The Well of Loneliness by Radclyffe Hall, written in 1928, is a pioneering novel about love and attraction between women. Starring Valerie Edmond as the enigmatic Stephen. 
 
Wuthering Heights is Emily Brontë's iconic love story. Heathcliff and Cathy's love is the beating heart of the story, set against the backdrop of the bleak Yorkshire moors. Starring Chloe Pirrie (Temple) and Ben Batt (Shameless). 
 
North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell explores social conscience, ideological difference and love in a mill town in the 1800s. Starring Emily Mortimer (The Pursuit of Love) and David Threlfall (Shameless). 
 
The Age of Innocence is Edith Wharton’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel about a passionate life-long love affair which breaks all the rules of the restrictive high society of 1870's New York. Starring Susan Lynch (Happy Valley) and Kellie Bright (Eastenders). 
 
Far from the Madding Crowd by Thomas Hardy is a story of the belief in true romance and the power of money and love. Starring Alex Tregear (Silk: The Clerk’s Room), Toby Jones (The Detectorists) and Patrick Kennedy (Boardwalk Empire). 
 
This stunning collection is packed with the best romance stories written in the last 500 years – a fully dramatised, unmissable listen featuring some of the biggest names of stage and screen. 
 
©2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)2025 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Classic Love Stories: A BBC Radio Drama Collection

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