Contains the text of Shakespeare's comedy about identical twin brothers, both named Antipholus, who set off a wave of confusion when they arrive in the same town after a lifetime apart, bringing with them identical twin servants, both named Dromios; and includes scene-by-scene action summaries, full explanatory notes, and a critical essay.

One of the early and finest achievements of Shakespeare, this classic romantic parody has been enhanced in this Folger Library Edition by introductions to Shakespeare's language, illustrations from the Folger collection, scene-by-scene plot summaries, and explanatory notes.

Set in the exotic forest of Arden, a social comedy and love story based on the rivalry between brothers to inherit their fathers' fortunes.

A simplified prose retelling of Shakespeare's play about the strange events that take place in a forest inhabited by fairies who magically transform the romantic fate of two young couples.

General Introduction -- The Comedies -- The Histories -- The Tragedies -- The Romances -- The Poems -- Canon, Dates, and Early Texts -- Sources -- Shakespeare in Performance -- The Royal Genealogy of England -- Maps -- Glossary [TOC].

Benjamin Jonson (1572-1637) was a Renaissance dramatist, poet and actor, known best for his satirical plays and lyric poems. He had a knack for absurdity and hypocrisy, a trait that made him immensely popular in the 17th century Renaissance period. However, his reputation diminished somewhat in the Romantic era, when he began to be unfairly compared to Shakespeare. The Theatre in London had had been denied to "The Admiral's Men" in 1597, but the troupe...

Two minor characters from "Hamlet" .. take the lead role and offer a ... 'worm's-eye' view ... where fate leads our two heroes to a tragic but inevitable end.

One of Shakespeare's most frequently performed comedies, Much Ado About Nothing includes two quite different stories of romantic love. Hero and Claudio fall in love almost at first sight, but an outsider, Don John, strikes out at their happiness. Beatrice and Benedick are kept apart by pride and mutual antagonism until others decide to play Cupid. --Publisher

Bernard Shaw was born in Dublin, of Protestant stock, in 1856, and died at Ayot St. Lawrence, Herts., in 1950. After a false start in XIX-century fashion as a novelist, he made a reputation as a journalist-critic of books, pictures, music and the drama. Meanwhile he had plunged into the Socialist revival of the eighteen-eighties and come out as one of the leaders who made the Fabian Society famouns, figuring prominently not only as a pamphleteer...

Passions unleashed cause much wooing and confusion in the magical woods of Athens. Whether real or induced by magical potions seems to mak little difference, showing that love is far from rational, though those afflicted might feel otherwise. A Midsummer night's dream is a delightful comedy that offers something for everyone. The intertwined love constellations include Hermia and Lysander, who having decided to elope, steal away into the forest. Demetrius,...