New folio brings Shakespeare closer to Chinese

A new Chinese collection of William Shakespeare's works is bringing one of the world's greatest playwrights closer to people in China, says Gu Zhengkun, chief editor of William Shakespeare: Complete Works, which was published recently by Beijing-based Foreign Language Teaching and Research Press.

In 39 volumes, the bilingual folio contains 12 tragedies and 14 comedies, among other works by the Bard.

The project that was authorized by the Royal Shakespeare Company from Shakespeare's birthplace Stratford-upon-Avon, took Gu, Xu Yuanchong, Zhang Chong and other 20 Chinese translators some eight years to complete.