Coriolanus by William Shakespeare (Everyman Shakespeare)

Coriolanus by William Shapeskpeare is the playwrights last tragedy, telling of Caius Marcius, a proud Roman General, who gains the name Coriolanus when, successful in battle against the Volscians, he captures the town Corioli. When his subsequent arrogance prevents his receiving the consulship in Rome, Coriolanus now allies himself to his former adversary, the Volscian general Aufidius, and with him marches on Rome to effect revenge for this insult. Yet although deaf to the appeal of emissaries and old friends, finally Coriolanus is persuaded to spare the city by his mother’s eloquance. Having made a treaty favourable to the Volscians, Coriolanus is nevertheless suspected by Aufidius of betraying Volscian interests, and publicly killed.