The "Sixty-Minute Shakespeare" series is created as an ideal alternative for those who lack the time to tackle the unabridged versions of the world’s most widely read playwright. Foster has condensed the Bard’s language, but has left the integrity of Shakespeare’s writings intact so that students can experience the thrill of his stories as well as the beauty of his prose. In addition, the author has provided footnotes explaining some of the more arcane words and phrases so that the reader can better understand and, therefore, enjoy the plays. It "allows teachers to introduce the language more easily to wary students, while each play retains its integrity and beauty," Sue Defabis, project manager at Five Star Publications, told TDmonthly. Launch date: 1990.