William Shakespeare, long hailed as history's greatest dramatic writer, has been lauded for his mastery of poetic expression, his insight into the human condition, and his deep exploration into the psyche and motivations of his characters.

These skills are perhaps best encapsulated in the monologues he gives his various protagonists, villains and bit players. From the ambitious Scottish general Macbeth contemplating the assassination of his sovereign king to the saintly Joan of Arc from Henry VI inspiring soldiers to follow her into battle, to Richard III's evil and traitorous plotting, to the mischievous sprite Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream celebrating his bewitching of the Fairy Queen, Shakespeare's monologues are short distillations of his larger themes - love and loss, fairness and inequity, power and envy, lust and purity.

Fort Raphael Publishing is proud to present, in this first volume, some of Shakespeare's greatest monologues, each of which captures a shining, brilliant moment from his plays that gives us a deeper understanding of each character, whether flattering, damning or inspiring.

Enjoy this collection of monologues from the greatest theatrical writer in the English language - William Shakespeare.