5 Must-Reads for Summer

It’s a tragedy to go through life without a little Shakespeare. Turn your frown upside down with the fifth installment of findingDulcinea’s Shakespeare series, and explore Shakespearean fun from word games to recipes to parodies, inspired by the Bard’s devoted fans.

Those who are convinced that the actor William Shakespeare couldn’t possibly have penned the plays and poetry laid to his name have proposed a variety of potential candidates for authorship. This installment in findingDulcinea’s Shakespeare series spotlights the leading contender in the Authorship Question: Edward de Vere, the 17th Earl of Oxford.

Were the plays and poetry attributed to William Shakespeare really written by an actor named William Shakespeare from Stratford-upon-Avon? Throughout history, there have been plenty of scholars convinced that someone else was the true author. In this installment of findingDulcinea’s Shakespeare series, we pursue the Authorship Question with a discussion of some of its contenders.

“He was not for an age but for all time,” declared Ben Jonson in the dedication to the 1623 First Folio of the plays of William Shakespeare. Part two of findingDulcinea’s Shakespeare series examines the man behind the work and the persistent "Authorship Question."

Born in England in the 16th century, Shakespeare’s poetry and plays are still published, produced, discussed, translated and analyzed in the 21st century. The Bard himself remains the subject of speculation and mystery. In honor of National Poetry Month and the month of his birth, our Shakespeare series examines the man, the controversies, his work and its central place in English-speaking culture today.

Most agree that poetry’s effect is at its fullest when read aloud. Though a poem’s meaning may seem cryptic on the page, when spoken, its meaning can become as clear as conversational prose. In honor of National Poetry month, here are five memorable poems read aloud by their authors.

Countless love stories in literature have inspired real-life romance. In this article find links to e-books, book club guides and other resources for exploring some of the most romantic tales in literature, including Jane Austen's "Emma," "The Odyssey" and "Captain Corelli's Mandolin."

They say good things come in small packages, and that’s certainly true of short stories. Usually structured and themed differently than a full-fledged novel, the short story has unique chances to reveal subtle insights and delicate emotions. FindingDulcinea looks at some stellar collections coming out this fall.