Edited Introduced & Annotated by Cedric Watts Research Professor of English Literature University of Sussex The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare Series with Henry V & The Merchant of Venice as its inaugral volumes presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal Othello has long been recognised as one of the most powerful of Shakespeare's tragedies This is an intense drama of love deception jealousy & destruction Desdemona's love for Othello the Moor transcends racial prejudice; but the envious Iago conspires to devastate their lives In its vivid rendering of racism sexism contested identities & the savagery lurking within civilisation Othello is arguably the most topical & accessible tragedy from Shakespeare's major phase as a dramatist Productions on stage & screen regularly renew its power to engross impress & trouble the imagination