Six celebrated hosts to tell the stories behind the stories of Shakespeare's greatest plays, revealing not just the elements in the play, but the history of the play itself. What sparked the creation of each of these works? Where did Shakespeare get his plots, and what cultural, political and religious factors influenced his writing? Why has this body of work endured so thoroughly? What, in the end, makes Shakespeare so great?

Combines elements of analysis, history, biography, performance, and the personal passions of six presenters to tell the stories behind the stories of six Shakespeare plays. Includes interviews with actors, directors, and scholars; visits to key locations; clips from celebrated film and television adaptations; and illustrative excerpts from performances staged at Shakespeare's Globe in London especially for the series.

"Doctor Faustus, restless for knowledge, forsakes scholarship for magic and makes a pact with the Devil: if the evil spirit Mephistopheles will serve him for 24 years, Faustus will yield his soul to the Devil after death. It isn't long before Faustus has doubts about the bargain, but Mephistopheles has plenty of entertainment at hand to distract Faustus from the terrifying reality of his position and the prospect of its agonizing conclusion"--Container...

The taming of the shrew: "Shakespeare's The taming of the shrew tells the tale of the sharp-tongued Kate, who must marry before her younger sister, Bianca, is allowed to find a suitor. Undaunted by her waspish reputation Petruchio attempts to woo the not-so-fair maiden, but is faced with a tirade of poisonous insults"--Container Twelfth night: "One of Shakespeare's best-loved comedies, Twelfth Night was 'blissfully reborn' (The Daily Telegraph) for...