20 Shakespeare Stories for Children

20 Shakespeare Stories for Children is a box set of the most popular plays, in a format that’s easy to understand. Ideal for introvert bookworms, this gives hours of reading:

Hamlet (the Prince of Denmark returns home after his father’s death to discover the evil plot of his Uncle Claudius, and seeks revenge but to his own downfall).
Romeo and Juliet (a love story in the city of Verona, revolving around the feud between two affluent families, who disapprove of them wanting to wed).
Macbeth (a power-hungry Scottish Lord and his Lady conspire to kill King Duncan. But on his death, Macbeth is consumed by guilt, panic and paranoia).
Timon of Athens (a rich man with a lavish life asks his friends for help when he runs out of money, but when they say no, he is filled with hatred and goes off to be a hermit).
The Winter’s Tale (a popular comedy set in Sicily, teaching readers the importance of the consequences of not trusting those you love).
The Tempest (set on a remote island, a magician controls the island to draw in his family who had unlawfully stolen his kingdom), so they can claim their ‘rightful position’.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona (a story of how friendship can overcome all odds, and how it is affected when they fall in love – but deal with problems to come out better on the other side).
The Taming of the Shrew (a robust comedy about the daughter of a wealthy merchant, but is so petulant that her father thinks she will never find a husband – until she meets someone as rich and arrogant as she is!) And together they realise the error of their ways.
Cymbeline King of Britain is a romantic play about Imogen who marries (against the wishes of her stepmother). So her husband is banished and she held as a prisoner in the palace.
Julius Caesar portrays events in Roman history, unfolding the story of his murder and the tragedy that strikes Rome after his death.
King Lear (the ageing king steps down and divides his kingdom between three daughters, asking each one how much they love him ..)
A Midsummer Night’s Dream (a popular comedy about Hermia and her best friend Helena, both in love with the same man, so Puck the fairy causes havoc with a love potion!
Anthony and Cleopatra again follows events from Roman history, set in ancient Rome and Egypt, the love story of a Roman general and the queen of Egypt.
All’s Well That Ends Well (a witty comedy about Helena, in love with Bertram (the son of her guardian) who does not share her feelings, until she wins him over with her intelligence!)
As You Like It (set in the enchanted forest of Arden, where Rosalind (the daughter of an exiled duke) and Orlando (the son of one of her father’s courtiers) become entangled in a game of love and mistaken identity).
Much Ado About Nothing (a story of love, trust and lies in this popular comedy, set in the quiet town of Messina in Sicily, featuring two pairs of lovers (Benedick and Beatrice and Claudio and Hero).
The Comedy of Errors (one of Shakespeare’s earliest plays, this tells the story of two sets of identical twins, separated at birth, but fate brings them to the same city years later).
Othello (a Moorish general falls in love with Desdemona (the daughter of a powerful senator in Venice).
Twelfth Night (a comic love story, when aristocratic Viola is separated from her twin brother Sebastian in a shipwreck, to be swept onto the shores of the Kingdom of Illyria, where she falls in love).
Richard III (a popular historic play taking place during the final years of War of the Roses (Lancashire vs Yorkshire!) about a duke who will stop at nothing to get his brother’s throne).

Who Was William Shakespeare?

Shakespeare was a wealthy property developer (with left-wing political views). All his relatives died with no children, so he has no direct descents.

Stratford-upon-Avon is where you’ll find the legacy of one of England’s greatest ever writers. The streets of this town are lined with historic houses (including his own), or take in a play at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.