Author(s): William Shakespeare

Classics

A gripping historical tragedy, set during the turbulent period just before the establishment of the Roman Republic, William Shakespeare's Coriolanus is edited by G R Hibbard with an introduction by Paul Prescott in Penguin Shakespeare. 'Anger's my meat; I sup upon myself, And so shall starve with feeding'. A peerless general is offered the consulship of Rome after his triumph over the city of Corioles. Too proud to respect the will of the people, however, he soon finds himself despised by the mob, and speaks out passionately against popular rule. Driven from the city as a traitor, he allies himself with his old enemies and begins to plot a merciless revenge. Adapted into an acclaimed film directed by Ralph Feinnes and starring Gerard Butler and Vanessa Redgrave, Coriolanus is a brilliant adaptation of historical events from Plutarch's Lives, bringing to life all the power and glory of Ancient Rome. This book includes a general introduction to Shakespeare's life and the Elizabethan theatre, a separate introduction to Coriolanus, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, an essay discussing performance options on both stage and screen, and a commentary.
William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden some time 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. If you enjoyed Coriolanus, you might like Julius Caesar, also available in Penguin Shakespeare. "Coriolanus is a loner, a star: a great warrior, not a great leader." (Sir Ian McKellen).