In a story based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, Ophelia tells of her life in the court at Elsinore, her love for Prince Hamlet, and her escape from the violence in Denmark.

Follow the quick-witted Danish prince as he carries out his plan to avenge his father's death, from the play that catches the king's conscience to the gripping and bloody finale. Specially commissioned full-colour artwork brings excitement and atmosphere to this classic tale. Speech bubbles work with the main text to emphasise and enhance the retelling. A running glossary at the foot of each page helps young readers with any challenging vocabulary without disrupting their reading experience.

Once upon a time on a dark winter night, a ghost appears on the ramparts of Castle Elsinore in Denmark. It closely resembles the recently deceased king of Denmark. The guards see it first, and then the scholar Horatio confronts it. But it doesn't speak to them. Impatient to know what the ghost's appearance means, they summon Hamlet, the prince of Denmark. Hamlet has returned to Denmark to attend his father's funeral. Yet, he finds himself also attending his mother Gertrude's wedding to his uncle Claudius, who has inherited the throne. What will the ghost tell Hamlet? One of the most intense and intriguing tragedies of all time is built upon the answer to this question. William Shakespeare's Hamlet is not just a story of a mad prince out to avenge his father's death. It is also the story of the struggle of a nation against Fate. It is the story of human willpower battling the odds. It is not only the story of a man at war with the world around him, but also the story of a man in conflict with his own mind. It is the story of a time when something is rotten in the state of Denmark.

Harper Hayes' father is dead. She's convinced his mysterious and tragic death is not an accident and is determined to find out who is responsible. Suspect number one: her uncle, who has been having an affair with her mother. Harper enlists the help of her ex-girlfriend Talia and her best friend (sometimes with benefits) Holden to prove her uncle's guilt. But when her father's business partner is also found dead, Harper realizes finding the murderer is more complicated than she had thought. As Harper starts hallucinating about her dad's death and sees his ghost as a teenage Hamlet everywhere she turns, one thing becomes clear, in order to uncover the truth, Harper must confront the demons that have haunted her family for decades.

The unspoken, complex heroine of Hamlet shares her own story through modern language in contemporary Denmark. As a rebellious and motherless child, Ophelia is taken into Elsinore Castle by Queen Gertrude as one of her most trusted ladies-in-waiting. Soon enough, Ophelia captures the affections of the young Prince Hamlet. A passionate romance kindles between the two in secret as the kingdom is on the brink of war amidst its own political intrigue and betrayal. When Hamlet's father is murdered and the prince's wits begin to unravel into an insatiable quest for vengeance, Ophelia sharply navigates the rules of power in Denmark all while struggling to choose between her true love and her own life.

An edition of Shakespeare’s tragedy, including discussion of its production, language, plot, and author.

Shakespeare's Hamlet is a timeless tragedy of the conflicted loyalties, madness, betrayal and terrible revenge. This Penguin Shakespeare edition is edited by TJB Spencer with an introduction by Alan Sinfield. 'To be or not to be - that is the question'. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. When young prince Hamlet is confronted by his father's ghost on the battlements of Castle Elsinore, he is burdened with a terrible task: slay King Claudius, Hamlet's uncle, who the ghost alleges murdered him. Wrestling with his conscience, Hamlet feigns wild madness while plotting a brutal revenge, alienating his mother Queen Gertrude and spurning his lover Ophelia. But the act of insanity takes Hamlet perilously close to the reality, wreaking havoc on guilty and innocent alike.

The complete play, plus excellent background notes on Shakespeare's life and times, images illustrating historical contexts, act and scene summaries, and creative student activities.