'Edith Nesbit' (1858-1924), born in England, was a British poet and novelist. As a political activist, she co-founded the Fabian Society, which was later affiliated to the Labour party. She wrote over forty books for children and her best-known works include 'The Railway Children' and 'The Five Children and It'.

The best works by the greatest writer in the English language, retold in simple prose for young readers.

Over 400 years ago, William Shakespeare wrote many memorable and beautiful plays and sonnets. These works have inspired generations of readers and writers, and continue to be read and performed even today. They have been recreated quite often but rarely for children. Keeping this in mind, in 1907, beloved children's author E. Nesbit, rewrote twenty of Shakespeare's most popular plays in simple, lively prose-from the comedies like Much Ado About Nothing, The Taming of the Shrew and the ever-popular Midsummer Night's Dream to the tragedies of Macbeth, Othello, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. Nesbit's vivid retellings of these plays and her selection of Shakespeare's famous quotes-along with an introduction by Ruskin Bond-are a perfect stepping stone for young readers into these great works of world literature.