Not only was Hamlet one of William Shakespeare\u2019s most popular works during his lifetime, it is also considered among the most powerful and influential works of world literature. \u201cTo be, or not to be,\u201d a line from one of Hamlet\u2019s soliloquies, is one of the most widely known quotes in modern English and has been referenced in countless works of literature, theater, film, and music.
\r\n\t\t\tDuring a dark winter night Horatio and a pair of watchmen encounter a ghost that resembles the late King of Denmark, the father of Prince Hamlet. After failing to converse with the ghost, Hamlet is brought to the site of the encounter. The ghost tells the story of his death. He was murdered by King Claudius, the dead king\u2019s brother and Hamlet\u2019s new stepfather. Hamlet swears to avenge him and kill Claudius.
\r\n\t\t\tThis Standard Ebooks production is based on William George Clark and William Aldis Wright\u2019s 1887 Victoria edition, which is taken from the Globe edition.
"}, "identifiers": {"standard_ebooks": ["william-shakespeare/hamlet"], "lenny": ["37044895"]}, "languages": [{"key": "/languages/eng"}], "publish_date": "2021", "publishers": ["Standard Ebooks"], "source_records": ["standard_ebooks:william-shakespeare/hamlet", "lenny:37044895"], "subjects": ["Tragedies", "Hamlet (Legendary character) -- Drama", "Kings and rulers -- Succession -- Drama", "Murder victims' families -- Drama", "Fathers -- Death -- Drama", "Revenge -- Drama", "Princes -- Drama", "Denmark -- Drama"], "title": "Hamlet", "full_title": "Hamlet", "covers": [12622256, -1], "works": [{"key": "/works/OL9170454W"}], "key": "/books/OL37044895M", "latest_revision": 7, "revision": 7, "created": {"type": "/type/datetime", "value": "2022-02-09T00:14:23.571862"}, "last_modified": {"type": "/type/datetime", "value": "2026-09-09T22:21:43.716097"}}