One of Burgess's most acclaimed novels, Nothing Like the Sun has been out of print for over 10 years. An audacious and pacey romp through the life of William Shakespeare, it has long been regarded as the classic Shakespeare novel. From his humble origins to his exalted status as England's premier playwright and on to his tragic death, Burgess tells his story - leaving nothing out. Of particular interest to Burgess is Shakespeare's love-life, and the effect his relationships had on his work. From the historical sources, Burgess focuses on several of Shakespeare's possible relationships...and imagines how these translate into his work. As bawdy as A Midsummer Night's Dream, as moving as King Lear and as rich in imagination as The Tempest, this is a twentieth-century classic. This edition also features a new introduction by Burgess's biographer, Andrew Biswell (biography due out summer 2002, Picador).