The book is authored by Edith Nesbit, best known for her books "The Railway Children, Five Children and It and The Enchanted Castle." Edith has done a beautiful job of translating Shakespere's works into stories which will engage children in the classic works such as "A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo and Juliet and King Lear." This is a delightful way to introduce your children to the world of William Shakespere. I read this book out loud to my daughter. Many of the plays were ones I was not familiar with, so I learned a thing or two myself. I found the book itself quite charming.