Hamlet by William Shakespeare

Widely considered the greatest play ever written, Shakespeare's Hamlet follows the Prince of Denmark as he seeks vengeance against his uncle Claudius — his father's murderer and now the king. But what makes Hamlet endlessly fascinating is its uncertainties: Is the Ghost a divine messenger or a tempting demon? Does Hamlet truly go mad, or merely pretend to? Why, once certain of Claudius's guilt, does he still not act? In its themes of inaction, appearance versus reality, and the nature of doubt and truth, Hamlet holds up a mirror to every age — including our own.

This edition from the Folger Shakespeare Library includes freshly edited text, scene-by-scene summaries, explanatory notes, an introduction to Shakespeare's language, and essays from leading scholars.

This book is featured on The Book Club with Michael Knowles, PragerU's show dedicated to the great literature that has shaped Western Civilization. In this episode, Michael Knowles and author Andrew Klavan explore the themes of Shakespeare's masterpiece and how they mirror modern society.

📺 Watch the episode: Andrew Klavan — Hamlet by William Shakespeare