The World of Shakespeare (Antony and Cleopatra / As You Like It / Hamlet / Julius Caesar / King Henry IV. Part 1 / King Henry V / King Lear / King Richard II / King Richard II / Macbeth / Merchant of Venice / Much Ado About Nothing / Othello / Romeo and Juliet / Sonnets / Taming of the Shrew / Tempest / Troilus and Cressida / Twelfth Night / Two Gentlemen of Verona / Winter's Tale)

The World of Shakespeare collection is rooted in the extensive archival recordings produced by The British Council and Decca throughout the 1950s and 1960s. These recordings were part of a monumental effort to preserve the complete dramatic works and sonnets of William Shakespeare for educational and historical purposes. The series brought together the era's most esteemed Shakespearean actors and directors, aiming to provide definitive, performance-based interpretations that would serve as a standard for students and scholars globally.

The 1993 publication associated with this ISBN serves as a comprehensive print companion to this audio legacy, organizing the texts in alignment with the classic recorded performances. The design of this edition reflects the British Council's commitment to accessibility and literary tradition, utilizing a clean, academic layout that prioritizes the clarity of the verse. It has been well-regarded by collectors and educators as a bridge between the oral tradition of the stage and the formal study of the printed page, cementing the influence of the original Decca recordings for a new generation of readers.