Richard Cuddington offers his readers a new approach to Shakespeare which acknowledges the Bard's stature as England's finest poet and playwright but lays aside the trappings of that greatness to reveal what made him popular with his contemporary audiences and what can still enchant us today - the stories. Here in Easy Reading Verse the author retells the stories of Shakespeare's Comedies with clarity, humour and a modern directness. Readers will meet Shylock demanding his pound of flesh, Jack Falstaff pursuing his 'merry wives', Petruchio taming his Katherine and many other unforgettable characters who leap off the page with the immediacy of cartoon personalities. The straightforward language with its bouncing, infectious rhythms and uncomplicated verse add pace and humour to each story as it rapidly unfolds. In this way the author makes Shakespeare less intimidating to potential readers, showing that England's greatest playwright can be fun and encouraging all who enjoy these verses to sample the rich pleasure of the original work.