The Tales from Shakespeare by Charles and Mary Lamb were written to be an
'introduction to the study of Shakespeare', but are much more entertaining than
that. All of Shakespeare's best-loved plays, comic and tragic, are retold in a
clear and robust style, and their literary quality has made them popular and
sought-after ever since their first publication in 1807. Shakespeare's own
language is used as much as possible to accustom children to the English of the
Elizabethan age. In these simple retellings, Shakespeare's plays come alive and
have delighted generations of children.