How does Shakespeare's treatment of human sexuality relate to the sexual conventions and language of his times? Looking at both plays and poetry, this lively and informative book explores Shakespeare's portrayal of desire, jealousy, and same-gender relationships, as well as how sex becomes a source of humour in his comedies.

This eloquent, humane and balanced book wears its erudition lightly. In doing so it rescues its subject from the overbearing weight of cultural, political and theoretical baggage with which it has often been loaded in the past few decades.

`This eloquent, humane and balanced book wears its erudition lightly. In doing so it rescues its subject from the overbearing weight of cultural, political and theoretical baggage with which it has often been loaded in the past few decades.' Rob Maslen, TLS `Well's subtly and systematically illuminates Shakespeare's acknowledgement of the glory and horror of what it is to be fully human.' Simon Callow, The Guardian `Concise and elegantly written book.' Simon Callow, The Guardian `Advance Praise: 'From bawdy and bed-tricks to same-sex love and the pangs of sexual jealousy, Shakespeare, Sex, and Love offers a magisterial account--by the leading Shakespeare authority of our day--of the subject at the very heart of the plays and poems. Its also a terrific read.' James Shapiro, author of 1599 `This eloquent, humane and balanced book wears its erudition lightly.' Times Literary Supplement `He treads a precise and delicate path through Shakespeare's works' Rob Maslen,TLS `Well-paced and informative book.' John Stubbs, Literary Review `[He] captures a great deal of the diversity and freshness of Shakespeare's writing.' John Stubbs, Literary Review, `He is an expert and highly readable guide to the highways and byways of Shakespearean sexuality.' Charles Nicholl, Financial Times `This is not a long book, but it draws on Well's decades of close-focus research as a Shakespeare scholar and editor.' Charles Nicholl, Financial Times `Deeply versed in the period, urbane and unflappable in tone, refreshingly free of ideological agendas.' Charles Nicholl, Financial Times `Wells is an expert modern guide in terms of literary criticism and biography.' The Times

A new book by the pre-eminent Shakespearean critic Stanley Wells A lively and informative account of the part played by sex in Shakespeare's writings and in his own life Looks at sex as a source of comedy, drama, debate, and passion in Shakespeare's plays and poems Shows that Shakespeare's attitude to, and portrayal of, sex changed over the course of his career

Stanley Wells is Honorary President of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Emeritus Professor of Shakespeare Studies of the University of Birmingham, and Honorary Emeritus Governor of the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. He has an extensive record of publications, mostly concerned with Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

A new book by the pre-eminent Shakespearean critic Stanley Wells A lively and informative account of the part played by sex in Shakespeare's writings and in his own life Looks at sex as a source of comedy, drama, debate, and passion in Shakespeare's plays and poems Shows that Shakespeare's attitude to, and portrayal of, sex changed over the course of his career