Let's face it.

Hearing people talk about Shakespeare can be pretty annoying. Particularly if you feel like you don't understand him. When people talk about which of Shakespeare's plays they like best, or what they thought of so-and-so's performance, they often treat Shakespeare like membership in some exclusive club.

If you don't get him, if you don't go to see his plays, you're not truly educated or literate. You might be tempted to ask whether the millions of people who say they love Shakespeare actually know what they're talking about, or are they just sheep?

No Fear Shakespeare: A Companion gives you the straight scoop on everything you "really" need to know about Shakespeare, including:

• What's so great about Shakespeare?
• How did Shakespeare get so smart?
• Five mysteries of Shakespeare's life and why they matter
• Did someone else write Shakespeare's plays?
• Where did Shakespeare get his ideas?
• Shakespeare's world
• Shakespeare's theater
• Shakespeare's language
• The five greatest Shakespeare Characters