If you enjoy reading books by William Shakespeare then you might also like the following authors:
Christopher Marlowe was an English playwright whose style and themes often attract readers who enjoy William Shakespeare. One of his best-known plays is “Doctor Faustus.”
It tells the story of a scholar named Faustus who becomes dissatisfied with normal human knowledge and turns to magic for greater power.
Faustus makes a dangerous bargain with the devil named Mephistopheles, trading his soul for twenty-four years of unlimited power and worldly pleasures. Throughout this story, Marlowe explores the limits of human ambition and the consequences of choices people make.
Readers who liked Shakespeare’s dramas such as “Macbeth” or “Hamlet” may also find “Doctor Faustus” an interesting play to explore.
Ben Jonson was a playwright who lived around the same time as William Shakespeare. He is known for comedies that focus on human foolishness and the humor in people’s mistakes.
In his play “Volpone,” Jonson tells the story of a wealthy and greedy man in Venice who pretends he is about to die, so he can trick others into giving him gifts.
As Volpone carries out his scheme, the situation becomes more tangled and people behave in funny and unexpected ways. Jonson shows how far greed can push people, while still keeping us entertained with clever jokes and surprising twists.
Thomas Kyd was an English playwright who lived in the late 1500s. Readers interested in Shakespeare often find Kyd’s work enjoyable too. One of his most famous plays is “The Spanish Tragedy.” It’s a revenge story focused on Hieronimo, a man seeking justice for his son’s death.
The plot includes justice, betrayal and a ghost demanding vengeance, themes common in Shakespeare’s works like “Hamlet.” Fans of tragedy and drama from Shakespeare’s era will find Thomas Kyd’s writing worth exploring.
John Webster was an English playwright who lived around the same time as Shakespeare. His plays are known for drama, revenge, and tragedy. In “The Duchess of Malfi,” Webster tells the story of a strong-willed duchess who secretly marries a man beneath her rank.
Her two powerful brothers don’t agree with her choice, and their reaction becomes dark and violent. The story includes hidden plots, madness, and shocking twists that draw readers into the complicated lives of these characters.
Lope de Vega was a Spanish playwright who wrote many lively plays about love and honor. If you like Shakespeare’s dramas, Lope de Vega’s comedy “The Dog in the Manger” might interest you.
It’s about a countess named Diana who rejects her secretary Teodoro, but doesn’t want him involved with anyone else either. This playful story shows jealousy and pride in a funny, insightful way.
The characters often hide their real feelings, which causes amusing situations and conflicts. Readers who enjoy Shakespeare’s comedies often find Lope de Vega’s characters and dialogues enjoyable too.
Thomas Middleton was a playwright from the same era as Shakespeare. His play “The Revenger’s Tragedy” tells the story of Vindice, a man driven by revenge against a corrupt duke who harmed his family.
Vindice disguises himself to get close to his enemy, and the drama unfolds through secrets and deception. People who enjoy Shakespeare’s darker tragedies, filled with revenge and betrayal, often find Middleton’s storytelling style familiar and engaging.
If you enjoy William Shakespeare, you might want to try Edmund Spenser. Spenser was an English poet from the Elizabethan period, known best for his romantic epic poem “The Faerie Queene.”
This poem mixes fantasy, adventure and poetry in a world full of knights, fair ladies, quests and mythical creatures. One of the poem’s central figures is the Redcrosse Knight, who has to face deception and danger on his journey toward virtue.
The plot explores themes of heroism, morality and love beautifully wrapped in imaginative storytelling. The language is elegant yet easy to appreciate for anyone familiar with Shakespeare’s style.
Francesco Petrarch was an Italian poet who lived in the 1300s and wrote poetry about love and longing. If you enjoy Shakespeare’s sonnets, Petrarch’s collection titled “Canzoniere” could interest you.
This book contains 366 short poems mostly about a woman named Laura whom Petrarch loved deeply. In the poems, he describes Laura’s beauty and the pain of loving someone he cannot have.
Petrarch’s poetry has clear and emotional language, which helped inspire many poets who wrote after him.
Miguel de Cervantes was a Spanish author who wrote “Don Quixote.” This book is about an older man named Alonso Quixano who becomes so fascinated by books of chivalry that he decides to become a knight himself.
He sets out with his friend Sancho Panza on a series of adventures that blend bravery with humor and imagination with reality. Sometimes Quixote mistakenly attacks ordinary objects he sees as scary enemies or majestic castles.
Readers who enjoy Shakespeare’s clever humor and memorable characters often find Cervantes enjoyable as well.
George Chapman was an English playwright and poet who wrote during Shakespeare’s lifetime. He is best known today for his translation of Homer’s ancient Greek epic, “The Odyssey.” In his version, Chapman brings Odysseus’ adventures to life in strong rhythms and clear images.
Odysseus faces dangerous seas, angry gods and temptations before finally returning home to Ithaca. Chapman’s language is poetic and straightforward, and it captures both the adventure and the emotion in Homer’s story.
Readers who enjoy Shakespeare’s skill with language and storytelling may find that Chapman offers a similarly rewarding reading experience.
Pierre Corneille was a French playwright from the 17th century who wrote plays about honor and duty in difficult situations. Readers who know Shakespeare may enjoy Corneille’s tragedy “Le Cid.”
The play is set in medieval Spain and follows Rodrigue, a noble young man who is forced to defend his family’s honor by facing his own lover’s father in battle. Rodrigue’s struggle to balance love with loyalty brings a series of dramatic twists.
Readers who liked Shakespeare’s stories of honor and conflict will find Corneille’s themes familiar but distinct in tone and setting.
Jean Racine was a French playwright from the 17th century best known for his tragic plays about human emotions and conflicts. Readers who enjoy Shakespeare’s tragedies may find that Racine portrays similar themes in his classic play “Phèdre”.
The story centers around Phèdre, a queen tormented by forbidden desires for Hippolyte, her stepson. This tragic situation leads to misunderstandings, betrayal and tense confrontations within the royal family.
Readers who like Shakespeare’s dramas that explore complicated family relationships may appreciate Racine’s honest depiction of passion and conflict.
Molière was a French playwright who wrote clever comedies about human nature and society’s faults. His play “Tartuffe” is a satirical comedy about a hypocrite named Tartuffe who pretends to be deeply religious to fool a wealthy man named Orgon.
Tartuffe is actually after Orgon’s wealth and power, but Orgon trusts and defends him despite clear evidence of his dishonesty. The story is full of funny misunderstandings, sharp dialogue and lively characters.
Readers who enjoy Shakespeare’s witty observations and rhyming dialogue in works like “Twelfth Night” or “Much Ado About Nothing” will appreciate Molière’s humor and clear insight into human behavior.
Aphra Behn was an English playwright and novelist who lived in the late 1600s. If you’re someone who enjoys Shakespeare’s stories and characters, you may also like Behn’s novella “Oroonoko.”
It follows the life and struggles of an African prince named Oroonoko, who ends up enslaved in Surinam. Oroonoko’s story contains romance, tragedy and strong reflections on honor and betrayal.
The vivid characters and powerful storytelling in “Oroonoko” offer a moving reading experience for any Shakespeare fan.
Philip Massinger was an English dramatist who wrote plays during the same era as Shakespeare. His works often have strong plots with plenty of political drama and vivid characters. One of his best-known plays is “A New Way to Pay Old Debts.”
In this play, Massinger presents a fascinating villain called Sir Giles Overreach, a greedy and cunning man who schemes to gain wealth and land through manipulation and deceit.
Readers who enjoy Shakespeare’s complex characters and exciting storytelling will likely find Massinger’s drama appealing.