Dark and violent, Macbeth is also the most theatrically spectacular of Shakespeare's tragedies.

Promised a golden future as ruler of Scotland by three sinister witches, Macbeth murders the king to ensure his ambitions come true.

But he soon learns the meaning of terror - killing once, he must kill again and again, and the dead return to haunt him.

A story of war, witchcraft and bloodshed, Macbeth also depicts the relationship between husbands and wives, and the risks they are prepared to take to achieve their desires. Illustrated throughout by Sir John Gilbert (1817-1897), famous for his depictions of historical scenes.

As well as Shakespeare, he illustrated works of Sir Walter Scott, Cervantes, Wilkie Collins and Wordsworth."With an Introduction by Dr Robert Mighall.