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|  | Macbeth by A. R. Braunmuller, Alan Durband, Barbara A. Mowat, Braham Murray, Daniel Leary
Shakespeare's dark portrait of ambition begins when three prophesying witches conspire to meet with Macbeth. Obliging his fate, he indeed encounters these Weird Sisters, who mysteriously refer to him by the title Thane of Cawdor, and moreover, as the future king. Macbeth's companion Banquo is told that his descendants will inherit the throne. Macbeth and Banquo are dumbstruck when two noblemen of Scotland arrive announcing Macbeth's new title; with confirmation of the prophesy, the seeds of ambition are planted. When Lady Macbeth learns about the prophesy of her husband's rule in a letter from him, she begins plotting the murder of Duncan, King of Scotland. The murder of the King sets in motion a series of dark deeds that torment Macbeth and Lady Macbeth with guilt, especially when the ghost of Banquo, who is among the couple's slain, appears at a banquet. The guilt manifests pointedly when Lady Macbeth, in a somnolent state, attempts to wash the blood from her hands, famously uttering Out, damn'd spot! out I say! MACBETH was Probably written between 1603 and 1606, the last of his major tragedies. A concise drama, MACBETH may be brief as the result of Shakespeare's having learned of King James's penchant for shorter works. The plot was inspired by the Chronicles of Holinshed's narrative of the reigns of Duncan and Macbeth. Richard Burbage, one of the most prominent actors of the Elizabethan stage, is said to have originated the title role. The earliest extant evidence of performance refers to a staging in 1611, but indirect evidence, such as the work's influence on other plays of the period, suggests an earlier debut. AUTHOR: A. R. Braunmuller, Alan Durband, Barbara A. Mowat, Braham Murray, Daniel Leary
PUBLISHER: Pocket Books
FORMAT: Paperback
CATEGORY: Art & Architecture 
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 | American Century by Barbara Haskell, Whitney Museum of American Art Staff
In the first half of the 20th century, the United States discovered its own artistic identity and finally shook off the dominant influence of Europe, its foremost guide up to that point. This abundantly illustrated guide, which pays tribute to American artistic achievements and the cultural and historical contexts in which they took place, is the first volume in a definitive survey of American film, dance, literature, the visual arts, and design. It was published in conjunction with a major Whitney Museum exhibition. AUTHOR: Barbara Haskell, Whitney Museum of American Art Staff
PUBLISHER: Norton, W. W. & Company, Incorporated
FORMAT: Hardcover
CATEGORY: Art & Architecture
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 | What Makes a Monet a Monet? by Richard Muhlberger
Description not available.Explores artistic style, composition, color, and subject matter as they relate to twelve works by Monet. AUTHOR: Richard Muhlberger
PUBLISHER: Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers
FORMAT: Hardcover
CATEGORY: Art & Architecture
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 | No More Secondhand Art by Peter London
This book is about using art as an instrument of personal transformation, enabling us to move from an inherited to a chosen state of being. AUTHOR: Peter London
PUBLISHER: Shambhala Publications, Incorporated
FORMAT: Paperback
CATEGORY: Art & Architecture
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 | The Trojan Women by Nicholas Rudall
As bleak and agonizing a portrait of war as ever to appear on the stage, The Trojan Woman is a masterpiece of pathos as well as a timeless and chilling indictment of war`s brutality. AUTHOR: Nicholas Rudall
PUBLISHER: Dee, Ivan R. Publisher
FORMAT: Hardcover
CATEGORY: Art & Architecture
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 | A Midsummer Night's Dream by A. L. Rowse, Alan Durband, Alfred Alexander Evans, Barbara A. Mowat, David Bevington
Confusions of the heart reign in Athens, where everyone is pining away for the wrong person except Theseus, the Duke and his fiancie, Hippolyta, whose wedding day is fast approaching. Hermia, the Duke`s daughter, is intent on marrying Lysander, although her father disapproves and threatens to make her a nun if she refuses to marry his choice for her, Demetrius. However, Helena loves Demetrius, who courted her once, and Lysander and Hermia plan to elope despite the Duke`s orders. Hoping that Demetrius will fall for her instead, Helena plans to alert Demetrius that Hermia will shortly be spoken for. Meanwhile, in a subplot, the artisans Quince, Snug, Flute, Snout, Starveling, and Bottom, are rehearsing the play PYRAMUS AND THISBE to be performed at the Duke`s wedding. As Hermia and Lysander head into woods to elope, with Helena and Demetrius following, the amateur acting troupe likewise takes cover in the woods to rehearse in privacy. This leads all the players into the realm of fairy magic, where fairies Oberon and Titania are arguing over a changeling. When Oberon decides to play a trick on Titania with the aid of a magic flower that causes people to fall in love with the first person (or beast) they set eyes on, the real trouble starts. The flower is used liberally on both the humans and the fairies by the trouble-making sprite Puck, inspiring many amorous entanglements. There is no known source for Shakespeare`s fantastic plot, though the structure is classical, as the events begin in the court, relocate to an uncivilized environment, and return to the court with renewed order, and aspects of the imagery are drawn from classic works, such as Apuleius`s THE GOLDEN ASS and Ovid`s METAMORPHOSES. Evidence in the play, like Titania`s remark about three unusually unpleasant summers in a row--documented elsewhere in England`s records--suggest a composition date of 1595 or 1596. A MIDSUMMER NIGHT`S DREAM was listed in a 1598 catalogue of Shakespeare`s works, and was publi AUTHOR: A. L. Rowse, Alan Durband, Alfred Alexander Evans, Barbara A. Mowat, David Bevington
PUBLISHER: Naxos of America, Incorporated
FORMAT: Audio
CATEGORY: Art & Architecture
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