10 Best William Shakespeare Books To Read For Old School Drama

The story of Romeo and Juliet has echoed for centuries now and despite many addressing the duo name as cliche for lover struck couples, the story is an absolute tragedy. Romeo and Juliet’s love is forbidden for their family feud which they realize soon enough after the foundation of love settles between them, this stands as one of the most famous William Shakespeare plays of all time and if you already know the story, revisiting this book would still be a delight. The shape and condition of this book is impressive enough to be added to your books stack. 

Long before the introduction of separating story genres and writing style came into the mainstream awareness, William Shakespeare took on to experimenting by introducing elements of magical nature, and unexplainable things into his stories which gave them a distinct character for immersive reading, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one such writing of Shakespeare that has been the most interesting reads ever, it is layered, chaotic, un anticipating and has a way of keeping you hooked till the end, this is one of the best books to read if you are tired of reading basic drama and classic novels. 

Among all the writings and plays of Shakespeare, King Lear has been underrated, there are many others that have got their due recognition but the story revolving around the themes of of war, treason and betrayal stands as a master piece and a sure shot read that would impress any reader to start an unbreakable stream of appreciation for Shakepeare’s genius. The connection psychological behavior with that of the emotional responses make this book a tough read at times, one may even think of introspecting at some point, although the turn of events and how the plot eventually unfolds would make you want to read some other William Shakespeare books with unabated attention. 

Hamlet, the prince of Denmark in the story, is vulnerable and has been piled on with the responsibility of taking revenge for his murdered father, the king. This story is ever famous and has been readapted many times into mainstream cinema, and other outlets of creative work. The story is steeped into the themes of madness, revenge and a polarizing conflict on morality. This is considered by many as the longest Shakespeare play; it is nuanced, subtle yet impactful in every way to make an impression on the readers. This stands as one of the best books to read by William Shakespeare, it is haunting, compelling and thought provoking. 

This is a travel friendly pocket classic to have and cherish while you travel, this play revels in the most complex human emotions of love, betrayal and manipulation in the right amount. The plot follows the downfall of the noble Moorish general, Othello, with underlying themes of racial prejudice playing a good role in the final consequence of the story. The tiny and compact nature of this pocket classic can fit in any bag that you carry and would eventually become one of the best book for travel reading. This is a profound commentary on human nature and is thus the most engaging book to pick among all the options that William Shakespeare has given to the rich world of literature. 

The list of the best William Shakespeare books would be incomplete without the addition of Julius Caesar, excerpts from the story are many times even found in the teaching of English literature for young students, and are often asked as a final test to give their interpretations of the story’s impact and teaching, and moral backing. Being one of the top books in the sphere of English literature the story of Julius Caesar is impactful and a marvel to finish, pick this reda if you truly want to get into the depth of Shakespeare’s writing and capacity to move beyond conventional stories and deliver something truly heroic yet relatable for the reader. 

For a true William Shakespeare fan the charm of sonnets will not go unnoticed, this is a compilation of his Sonnets with A Lover’s Complaint makes all the difference for a good reading experience. This book can even be a good gifting option too, it comes with a nice printing quality and a stunning book cover to include in the book rack, it is not a hefty read but is rather quite a sleek option to indulge in from time to time, to spark creativity or just simply enjoy the marvel of the words strewn delicately in a poetic way to invoke strong emotions and sense of relativity with its content. 

Despite writing so many stories, Shakespeare has managed to give yet another vibrant and different tale that is not linear or monotonous, it is striking and almost indulgent. Viola and Sebastian embark on a series of hilarious misadventures, it is comical, strange at times and intriguing exploring the themes of love, identity and the human condition. This play is charming and is among one of the best books to read by Shakespeare. This story weaves a tale of mistaken identities, mischievous pranks, and unrequited love all aiming to make your experience of reading a thrilling and fulfilling one. 

This is a decorative hardbound book which contains some of the best works of William Shakespeare. It is an all in one investment to make if you are a true fan of Shakespearean plays. Being decorative with gilded edges it can be a nice addition for any book shelf. Plays such as Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello are all included in this one singular book. For English literature lovers this is a sort of a collectible edition, worth reading, decorating and cherishing. For a personalized library this is a good choice to include, although keep in mind that even though it claims to have all the work of Shakespeare, it actually misses some. 

If the collective hardbound complete work of Shakespeare is not enough then this book set with 22 pieces of different stories by Shakespeare is a good choice too. With titles like The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Macbeth, As You Like It, The Tragedy of King Lear and more this would be more than enough for the liking of a true William Shakespeare book lover. This extensive collection can be a good addition for any personal library or book shelf and can on its own start a spree of collecting the best books in classic literature. All the titles in this set are loved, celebrated and are appreciated by many.