The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor

by William Shakespeare
The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor

by William Shakespeare

Paperback

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Overview

According to legend, Queen Elizabeth I was so delighted with the character of Sir John Falstaff in "Henry IV, " Parts I and II, that she commanded Shakespeare to create a romantic comedy depicting the jolly old rogue in love. The obedient playwright responded with "The Merry Wives of Windsor, " a lively and enduring farce that offers a humorous rebuff to lechery and hypocrisy.Falstaff, whose greed and vanity overwhelm his good sense, determines to seduce a pair of well-to-do country housewives. The portly knight meets his match among the gentlewomen of Windsor, however, who counter his every stratagem with witty maneuvers of their own that expose Sir John's tomfoolery to public mirth. Familiar Shakespearean themes and devices--romance, jealousy, disguises, and mistaken identities--enrich the plot, along with a sparkling cast of supporting characters, including rival wooers, informers, and witty go-betweens.
This madcap romp has been a favorite of readers and playgoers for over 400 years. Students, teachers, and all lovers of literature and drama will appreciate this inexpensive edition of an ageless comic gem.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781489511744
Publisher: CreateSpace Publishing
Publication date: 05/20/2013
Pages: 96
Product dimensions: 7.44(w) x 9.69(h) x 0.20(d)
Age Range: 14 Years

About the Author

About The Author

"He was not of an age, but for all time," declared Ben Jonson of his contemporary William Shakespeare (1564-1616). Jonson's praise is especially prescient, since at the turn of the 17th century Shakespeare was but one of many popular London playwrights and none of his dramas were printed in his lifetime. The reason so many of his works survive is because two of his actor friends, with the assistance of Jonson, assembled and published the First Folio edition of 1623.

Date of Death:

2018

Place of Birth:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Place of Death:

Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom

Read an Excerpt

Act 1 Scene 1 running scene 1
(Continues…)



Excerpted from "The Merry Wives of Windsor"
by .
Copyright © 2006 William Shakespeare.
Excerpted by permission of Penguin Publishing Group.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

Table of Contents

Act 1
Act 2
Act 3
Act 4
Act 5
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