This famous play by William Shakespeare, written in about 1600, is one of the finest in the English language. Why does Hamlet, the young Prince of Denmark, look so sad? Why does he often say strange things? His family and friends are worried about him. Perhaps he is mad! But Hamlet thinks that he has discovered a terrible secret about a recent crime in his family. Now he has no time for Ophelia, the sweet girl who loves him, or his friends, who were at school with him. He sits alone, and thinks, and plans. What will he decide to do? Will he ever be happy again?

This famous play by Oscar Wilde is one of the finest comedies in the English language. Algernon knows that his friend Jack does not always tell the truth. For example, in town his name is Ernest, while in the country he calls himself Jack. And who is the girl who gives him presents 'from little Cecily, with all her love'? But when the beautiful Gwendolen Fairfax says that she can only love a man whose name is Ernest, Jack decides to change his name, and become Ernest forever. Then Cecily agrees to marry Algernon, but only if his name is Ernest, too, and things become a little difficult for the two young men.

There are two love stories in this fast-moving comedy. Brave young Claudio and Leonato's pretty daughter Hero are in love and want to marry, but Don John has a wicked plan to stop their wedding. Will he succeed, or will the truth come out? Will Claudio and Hero marry, after all? Beatrice and Benedick are always arguing with each other, but how do they really feel? Perhaps they are more interested in each other than they seem to be! Their friends work hard to bring them closer together.

Money or love? Which is more important in life? Can money buy anything? Can it help a young man to marry the girl he loves? Does money really make people happy, or does it just cause problems? These four plays about money, love, and life are adapted from short stories written a hundred years ago by the great American storyteller O. Henry. Henry had his own difficulties with money and loneliness, and wrote from personal experience.

Reading a complete story in English gives students a great sense of achievement — and encourages them to read more. The Oxford Bookworms Library offers a variety of titles. The books are graded at six vocabulary levels ranging from 250 words (Starter) to 2,500 (Advanced).

What do you do if you have a boring job in a restaurant, serving fast food to people who have no time to eat? Smile, and do your best? Perhaps it's better to find a place where time doesn't matter so much. What if you dream of travelling to other countries, but your friends just laugh? Do you stay at home with them? Or do you decide to be more adventurous? Perhaps you hear that someone has bought the last bag of salt in town. Do you buy a bag from him at a high price? Or try to make him give you a bag? Our world is full of these kinds of problems. They make life interesting, and sometimes very funny. These five short plays show people trying to decide what to do in unexpected or difficult situations.

Sherlock Holmes is the greatest detective the world has ever seen, and he knows it. As the famous bank-robber, John Clay, says to him, 'You think of everything, Mr Holmes. You're very clever.' People come to him with problems that no one, not even the police, can solve. Holmes sits, and thinks, and smokes his pipe, and in the end he finds the answer. In these plays, based on two of his stories, Holmes, helped by his old friend, Dr Watson, uses his great intelligence to solve two unusual and interesting cases.

This famous play by William Shakespeare, written in about 1600, is one of the finest in the English language. Why does Hamlet, the young Prince of Denmark, look so sad? Why does he often say strange things? His family and friends are worried about him. Perhaps he is mad! But Hamlet thinks that he has discovered a terrible secret about a recent crime in his family. Now he has no time for Ophelia, the sweet girl who loves him, or his friends, who were at school with him. He sits alone, and thinks, and plans. What will he decide to do? Will he ever be happy again?

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Reading a complete story in English gives students a great sense of achievement -- and encourages them to read more. The Oxford Bookworms Library offers a variety of titles. The books are graded at six vocabulary levels ranging from 250 words (Starter) to 2,500 (Advanced).

Reading a complete story in English gives students a great sense of achievement -- and encourages them to read more. The Oxford Bookworms Library offers a variety of titles. The books are graded at six vocabulary levels ranging from 250 words (Starter) to 2,500 (Advanced).

Reading a complete story in English gives students a great sense of achievement — and encourages them to read more. The Oxford Bookworms Library offers a variety of titles. The books are graded at six vocabulary levels ranging from 250 words (Starter) to 2,500 (Advanced).

Reading a complete story in English gives students a great sense of achievement -- and encourages them to read more. The Oxford Bookworms Library offers a variety of titles. The books are graded at six vocabulary levels ranging from 250 words (Starter) to 2,500 (Advanced).

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.

Short stories from Oxford Bookworms with a unique set of resources and information for running successful Reading Circles.