Penguin Readers are written by specialist ELT authors. The language, vocabulary, style and content of every book is carefully graded to make sure it suits the learner's own language ability. Every Penguin Reader has a range of activities in the book and accompanying Factsheet to help increase comprehension and develop reading, writing, listening and speaking skills.

Chapter 1 Stratford Childhood
Chapter 2 A Wife and Children
Chapter 3 The Lost Years
Chapter 4 Plague, Poems and a Patron
Chapter 5 Great Success and a Personal Tragedy
Chapter 6 The Globe Theatre
Chapter 7 Hamlet, the Last Comedy and a Lucky Escape
Chapter 8 Towards Tragedy
Chapter 9 Romans, Greeks and a Wedding
Chapter 10 Return to Stratford
Chapter 11 Last Years
Chapter 12 ‘Not of an age but for all time’