Macbeth

Ambition. Murder. Madness. And the most cursed play in the English language.

Shakespeare's shortest and bloodiest tragedy is a warning dressed in thunder and prophecy: be careful what you wish for—because you might just get it.

Three witches on a heath hail Macbeth, a Scottish general, as the future king. The prophecy ignites something in him. With his wife's savage encouragement, he murders the sleeping king Duncan in his own castle, blames the guards, and seizes the throne. But one murder is never enough. To keep his crown, Macbeth must kill again—and again. His friend Banquo. The family of his rival Macduff. Anyone who might threaten him. As guilt hardens into paranoia, Lady Macbeth, who once prayed to be unsexed and filled with cruelty, walks in her sleep, trying to wash invisible blood from her hands. "Out, damned spot!" she whispers. But the spot will not come out.

This is Shakespeare at his most dark and urgent: a play about the poison of unchecked ambition, the fragility of conscience, and the terrifying ease with which a good man can become a monster. Macbeth endures because it knows that the throne is not the prize—it is the trap.

• One of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed tragedies

• Explores ambition, guilt, fate, masculinity, and the corrupting nature of power

• The source of countless phrases still spoken today: "Double, double toil and trouble," "What's done is done," "Out, damned spot," and "Sound and fury"

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 power, once tasted, is never satisfied.

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). Over the course of his career, he wrote approximately 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and several narrative poems. His works—including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, King Lear, Othello, and Macbeth—have been translated into every major language and performed more often than any other playwright in history. Often called "the Bard of Avon," Shakespeare's influence on literature, theater, and the English language itself is immeasurable.