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Much Ado About Nothing, comedy in five acts by William Shakespeare, written probably in 1598-99 and printed in a quarto edition from the author's own manuscript in 1600. The play takes an ancient theme-that of a woman falsely accused of unfaithfulness-to brilliant comedic heights. Shakespeare used as his main source for the Claudio-Hero plot a story from Matteo Bandello's Novelle (1554-73); he also may have consulted Ludovico Ariosto's Orlando furioso...

Planning a school or amateur Shakespeare production? The best way to experience the plays is to perform them, but getting started can be a challenge: The complete plays are too long and complex, while scene selections or simplified language are too limited. "The 30-Minute Shakespeare" is a new series of abridgements that tell the "story" of each play from start to finish while keeping the beauty of Shakespeare's language intact. Specific stage directions...

"Bantam edition with newly edited text and substantially revised, edited, and amplified notes, introductions, and other materials.

A pastoral comedy, William Shakespeare's "As You Like It," is the story of a Duke, who is unjustly deposed by his younger brother Frederick, and flees to the Forest of Arden. The Duke's daughter, Rosalind, remains behind at the court. When it is discovered that Orlando, the youngest son of the deceased Sir Rowland de Boys, has fallen in love with her, Orlando is forced to flee. Rosalind follows after him, with her cousin Celia, to the Forest of Arden...

Based on Plutarch's account of the lives of Brutus, Julius Caesar, and Mark Antony, Julius Caesar was the first of Shakespeare's Roman history plays. Presented for the first time in 1599, the play reveals the great dramatist's consummate ability to explore and express the most profound human emotions and instincts. So clearly and urgently does it impact its insights into history and human behavior, Julius Caesar is traditionally among the first of...

The story of a king who craves flattery-and the daughter who refuses him even at the cost of her own inheritance. King Lear wants nothing more than to be praised, and when he decides to divide his realm according to how much each of his daughters can impress him with their declarations of love, Goneril and Regan are quick to oblige. Only the youngest, Cordelia, cannot give him what he wants-and she is promptly cut out of his will. Lear's decision...

This 15-chapter book will help you conquer your fear of public speaking and get yourself good and ready for that upcoming presentation. Overcoming anxiety and delivering a comfortable speech, really all comes down to proper preparation, and just a little practice. Follow the public speaking tips in this short course to lose the stage fright and actually enjoy yourself. Topics include: • How to physically control fear with your body • The proper...

You don't have to be a professional public speaker to make an effective speech in public. Using this book as a guide, you can learn the simple, proven techniques for effective speechmaking, whether you are the president of a large corporation or the chairperson of a small club.

Imagine a public speaking guide that clearly explains what works...and what does not. In Presentation Excellence, veteran public speaker, presenter, and trainer, Carlton C. Casler, shares 30+ years of experience with speakers of all levels. Unlike so many how-to books designed only to inspire, this book stands alone as a practical, user-friendly guide that offers precise instructions on what to do before, during, and after the presentation. This book...

This book will teach you how to become a lively, successful, and charismatic public speaker. Here you will find a fresh and entertaining explanation of virtually every aspect of public speaking: how to overcome stage fright, making eye contact, working on the voice, using pauses, questions, and gestures, avoiding parasitic words, how to face the public, acting skills, debating, storytelling, making conversation, reading aloud, proposing toasts, and...