The Works of Shakespeare Reading Order

The plays and epic poetry of William Shakespeare…

As arranged into the order of their internal chronology by Isaac Asimov in his Guide

The Greeks

Venus and Adonis
Poem published 1593, set in the era of myths.
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Play first staged in 1595 or 1596, set in the era of the Greek heroes.
The Two Noble Kinsmen
Play first staged in 1613 or 1614, set in the era of the Greek heroes. Co-written with John Fletcher.
Troilus and Cressida
Play first staged in 1603, set in the era of the Greek heroes.
Timon of Athens
Play written in 1605-6, set in the era of Classical Greece. Co-written with Thomas Middleton.
The Winter’s Tale
Play written in 1610-11, set in the era of Classical Greece.
The Comedy of Errors
Play written in 1594, set in the era of Classical Greece.
Pericles, Prince of Tyre
Play written in 1607-8, set in the era of Classical Greece. Co-written with George Wilkins.

The Romans

The Rape of Lucrece
Poem published 1594, set in the Roman Kingdom.
Coriolanus
Play written in 1607-8, set in the Roman Kingdom.
Julius Caesar
Play written in 1599, set in the Roman Empire.
Antony and Cleopatra
Play written in 1606–07, set in the Roman Empire.
Titus Andronicus
Play first performed in 1594, set in the Roman Empire.

The English Plays

King Lear
Play written in 1605-6, set in pre-Norman Britain.
Cymebline
Play first performed in 1611, set in pre-Norman Britain.
Hamlet
Play written in 1599-1602, set in pre-Norman Britain.
Macbeth
Play written in 1606, set in pre-Norman Britain.
King John
Play written in 1587-98, set in Middle Ages Britain.
Edward III
Play first printed in 1586, set in Middle Ages Britain. Co-written with Thomas Kyd.
Richard II
Play written in 1597, set in Middle Ages Britain.
King Henry IV, Part 1
Play first performed in 1597, set in Middle Ages Britain.
King Henry IV, Part 2
Play written in 1596-9, set in Middle Ages Britain.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
Play first performed in 1597, set in Middle Ages Britain.
Henry V
Play written in 1599, set in Middle Ages Britain.
King Henry VI, Part 1
Play first performed in 1592, set in Middle Ages Britain.
King Henry VI, Part 2
Play written in 1591-2, set in Middle Ages Britain.
King Henry IV, Part 3
Play written in 1591-2, set in Middle Ages Britain.
Richard III
Play written in 1591, set in Middle Ages Britain.
King Henry VIII
Play first performed in 1613, set in Middle Ages Britain.
Sir Thomas More
Play first performed by 1594, set during the reign of King Henry VIII. Co-written with Anthony Munday and Henry Chettle.

The Italians

Love’s Labour’s Lost
Play written in 1595-6, set in Renaissance Italy.
The Taming of the Shrew
Play written in 1592, set in Renaissance Italy.
The Two Gentlemen of Verona
Play written in 1590-1, set in Renaissance Italy.
Romeo and Juliet
Play written in 1591-5, set in Renaissance Italy.
The Merchant of Venice
Play written in 1596-7, set in Renaissance Italy.
Much Ado About Nothing
Play written in 1598-9, set in Renaissance Italy.
As You Like It
Play written in 1598-9, set in Renaissance Italy.
Twelfth Night
Play written in 1600-1, set in Renaissance Italy.
All’s Well That Ends Well
Play written in 1604-5, set in Renaissance Italy.
Othello
Play written in 1603-4, set in Renaissance Italy.
Measure for Measure
Play written in 1603-4, set in Renaissance Italy.
The Tempest
Play written in 1610-11, set in Renaissance Italy.
Double Falsehood
Play written in 1612-13, set in Renaissance Spain. Co-written by John Fletcher (as ‘Cardenio’), and reconstructed by Lewis Theobald in 1727.

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Reading Order


A Victorian Era Justice League

A little series by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill, which began as a Victorian Era Justice League featuring the familiar characters of that era’s fiction, but eventually expanded into the modest ambition of eventually including basically every piece of fiction ever. Along the way, it moved from America’s Best Comics (an imprint of WildStorm Comics published under the aegis of DC Comics) to a wholly creator-owned new home at Top Shelf Productions.

That said, a fantastic set of series, with loving attention to detail shining from every panel. This timeline also includes the annotations to the various volumes, since you’ll be missing at least half of the references without them.

Despite its original publisher, it is not a part of the America’s Best Comics Universe.

1898 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume I
Annotations by Jess Nevins: Heroes & Monsters: The Unofficial Companion to the League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1898 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume II
Annotations by Jess Nevins: A Blazing World: The Unofficial Companion to the Second League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1910 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century #1
 
1925 — Nemo: Heart of Ice
 
1941 — Nemo: The Roses of Berlin
 
1958 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, The Black Dossier
Annotations by Jess Nevins: Impossible Territories: An Unofficial Companion to The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen
1969 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century #2
 
1975 — Nemo: River of Ghosts
 
2009 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume III: Century #3
 
2010 — The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Volume IV: Tempest

The Mad Max Chronology

A few years from now…

The Cars That Ate Paris
1974 film on DVD.
Included because some car designs in Fury Road are clearly inspired by the iconic car design in this film – for purposes of this timeline, it’s the same car.
Market Forces
2004 novel written by Richard K. Morgan.
Morgan has specifically identified Mad Max as an inspiration for the story, describing it as an unofficial addition to the world of the film – while it has no direct connection, it is set in the same societal decay that opens the first film, albeit in England, rather than Australia.

Mad Max
1979 film on Blu-ray.
Mad Max
1990 NES game.
Appears to be set before The Road Warrior, based on the appearance of the V8 Interceptor.
Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior
1981 film on Blu-ray.
Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome
1985 film on Blu-ray.
Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga
2024 film on Blu-ray.
Mad Max: Fury Road
Reprints Mad Max: Fury Road – Nux and Immortan Joe #1 (July 2015); Mad Max: Fury Road – Furiosa #1 (August 2015); & Mad Max: Fury Road – Mad Max #1-2 (September 2015 – October 2015).
Collection of prequel comics.
Mad Max: Fury Road
2015 film on Blu-ray.
Mad Max
Game for PS4. Also available for Xbox One and PC.
See you on the road!