Extracted from the best-selling Complete Works of Shakespeare, 7/e by David Bevington, The Necessary Shakespeare offers the most comprehensive scholarly apparatus, with the most often taught—necessary—of Shakespeare's work, creating a truly concise yet complete anthology.
 
The fourth edition of this anthology addresses the two key issues confronted by students approaching Shakespeare today:
(1) a lack of knowledge about the historical period and;
(2)  difficulty with the language of Shakespeare's plays.
 
 A richly illustrated general introduction offers insight into Shakespeare's England and background on the literary, social, and cultural contexts in which Shakespeare wrote and produced plays. Each play is introduced by a descriptive essay designed to help students appreciate the historical contexts and interpretive issues raised by the play, without dictating students’ interpretations. Completely revised and updated notes and glosses support student readers line by line, paraphrasing Elizabethan expressions in clear and accessible contemporary language.
