Hamlet

A ghost walks the battlements of Elsinore, and a prince is left with a demand that will consume him. Hamlet is one of Shakespeare's best-known tragedies: a story of grief, revenge, family and doubt, written for the public stage around 1600 and first printed in 1603. Its language ranges from raw grief to biting wit, and its central figure remains one of the most fascinating characters in English literature.

This edition is made for readers coming to the play for the first time, as well as for book clubs and students who want a clear path through the text. It presents the complete play in five acts, with a new introduction that sets Shakespeare and his theatre in context and suggests what to notice as you read. A character guide introduces the principal figures of Elsinore, from Hamlet and Claudius to Ophelia and Horatio. A summary follows the plot from the first ghost to the final scene, and a note on themes explores revenge, appearance and reality, mortality, corruption, action and inaction, and gender and power. A glossary explains unfamiliar words and phrases that occur in the text, and a set of discussion questions is included for readers, students and book clubs. Whether you are studying the play or returning to it for pleasure, this edition offers the complete text with helpful support.