Coriolanus

He cannot lie. He cannot flatter. He cannot be governed. And for that, Rome will destroy him.

Shakespeare's last tragedy is his most political, a blistering study of pride, populism, and the man who despises the very people he is meant to serve.

Caius Martius, later called Coriolanus, is the greatest soldier Rome has ever produced. On the battlefield, he is fearless, unstoppable, a machine of blood and honor. But he cannot speak to the people. He cannot pretend to love them. When he returns from war covered in glory, the patricians urge him to run for consul. To win, he must stand before the common citizens in a gown of humility and ask for their vote, showing his wounds, begging for approval. He refuses. He cannot. His contempt for the mob is too deep. His mother, the ferocious Volumnia, forces him to try. But when the people turn against him, Coriolanus responds the only way he knows: he joins forces with Rome's greatest enemy and marches on the city.

This is Shakespeare at his most savage and psychological: a play about the tension between the individual and the crowd, between martial honor and political necessity. Coriolanus has been claimed by the left and the right, by fascists and democrats—because it refuses to take sides. It simply watches a great man destroy himself.

• One of Shakespeare's last tragedies, written around 1608–1609

• Inspired by the Roman historian Plutarch's Lives

• Explores themes of pride, motherhood, populism, and the impossibility of pure integrity in politics

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.

• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.

• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that the man who cannot bend will eventually break.

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he moved to London and became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). Coriolanus was written around 1608–1609, following his great tragedies and during the period of his late romances. The play is based on the life of the legendary Roman general Gaius Martius Coriolanus, as told in Plutarch's Lives. It was not particularly popular in Shakespeare's lifetime and has had a complex performance history, with major revivals during periods of political upheaval (including the French Revolution and both World Wars). Notable actors who have played the title role include Laurence Olivier, Ian McKellen, and Ralph Fiennes (who also directed a 2011 film adaptation). Shakespeare's other major works include Hamlet, King Lear, Macbeth, Antony and Cleopatra, and The Tempest. He died in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.