Books From University Presses

Recommended for those seeking a thought-provoking drama with complex characters and deep exploration of human nature. With accessible on-page notes and updated illustrations, students can easily explore the play's controversies and themes of identity, power, and revenge.

Lyrical Ballads is a must-read for anyone interested in the Romantic era of literature. The collection of poems, compiled by Wordsworth and Coleridge, features some of the most notable works of the period, such as "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" and "Lines Written a Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey." Wordsworth's Preface serves as a manifesto for the Romantic movement, making it an important read for anyone studying English literature. Oxford World's Classics provides a thorough edition, complete with important letters and helpful notes, making it an accessible and insightful read for lovers of poetry.

The Merchant of Venice is an excellent read for those who enjoy Shakespearean classics with themes revolving around justice and prejudice. The play's unique and distinctive feature is its portrayal of the Jewish character, Shylock, and the exploration of his character as the villain. Readers will appreciate the play's emphasis on mercy and the consequences of prejudice towards certain groups. Overall, it is a timeless piece that explores complex themes.

This edition of The Merchant of Venice is especially designed for students, with accessible on-page notes and explanatory illustrations, clear background information, and rigorous but accessible scholarly credentials. This edition includes illustrations, preliminary notes, reading lists (including websites) and classroom notes, allowing students to master Shakespeare's work.About the Series:Newly redesigned and easier to read, each play in the Oxford School Shakespeare series includes the complete and unabridged text, detailed and clear explanations of difficult words and passages, a synopsis of the plot, summaries of individual scenes, and notes on the main characters. Also included is a wide range of questions and activities for work in class, together with the historical background to Shakespeare's England, a brief biography of Shakespeare, and a complete list of his plays.

This edition of The Merchant of Venice, based on a fresh examination of the early editions, includes an exceptionally lucid and accessible introduction which addresses Shakespeare's attitude toward Semitism and establishes the cultural, historical, and literary context in which Shakespeare wrote the play. An interesting range of production photographs and drawings of Renaissance merchants and Jews, and a survey of the play's stage history ranging from discussions of its early staging to important twentieth-century productions and performances outside England, particularly Israel, makes this an ideal edition for students, actors, and the general reader.About the Series: For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the broadest spectrum of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, voluminous notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

This edition provides valuable historical and cultural context, shedding light on the controversial themes and characters in the play. It also includes a fresh modernized text for easy reading, making it a great choice for both students and general readers interested in Shakespeare's exploration of complex societal issues such as anti-Semitism, loyalty, and love.

Critical commentary accompanies the story of Antonio, who risks his life to borrow money from his enemy, Shylock, and is saved by Portia, an heiress posing as a lawyer.

The Oxford School Shakespeare is a well-established series which helps the reader to understand and enjoy Shakespeare's plays. Each play in the series contains the complete text with an extensive range of notes, background information on Shakespeare's England, suggestions for further reading,a brief biograohy of Shakespeare, and a complete list of his plays.

The third edition of the definitive collection of Chaucer's Complete Works, reissued with a new foreword by Christopher Cannon. Since F. N. Robinson's second edition of the The Works of Geoffrey Chaucer was published in 1957, there has been a dramatic increase in Chaucer scholarship. This has not only enriched our understanding of Chaucer's art, but has also enabled scholars, working for the first time with all the source-material, to recreate Chaucer's authentic texts. For the third edition, an international team of experts completely re-edited all the works, added glosses to appear on the page with the text, and greatly expanded the introductory material, explanatory notes, textual notes, bibliography, and glossary. In short, the Riverside Chaucer is the fruit of many years' study - the most authentic and exciting edition available of Chaucer's Complete Works.