"Much Ado About Nothing" (Arden Shakespeare: Second Series)

by WilliamShakespeare (Author), Arthur Raleigh Humphreys (Editor)

• Used

  Paperback
  1996

  $3.76

  Set in a courtly world of masked revels and dances, this play turns on the archetypal story if a lady falsely accused of unfaithfulness, spurned by her bridegroom, and finally vindicated and reunited with him. Villainy, schemes, and deceit threatens to darken the brilliant humor and sparkling wordplay--but the hilarious counterplot of a warring couple, Beatrice and Benedick, steals the scene as the two are finally tricked into admitting their love for each other in Shakespeare's superb comedy of manners.

• Used

  Paperback
  2000

  $15.94

  This introductory edition of one of the Bard's most popular comedies has been designed specifically for readers new to Shakespeare's rich literary legacy. The play is presented unabridged and in large print, copiously annotated and preceded by a commentary and character summary. A brief scene synopsis clarifies the plot, while incisive essays describe the historical context and Shakespeare's sources. The explanatory notes are written clearly and simply, illustrated, and positioned right next to the text--no more flipping pages back and forth to squint over microscopic footnotes! Sparkling with witty dialogue, Much Ado About Nothing is one of Shakespeare's most enjoyable and theatrically successful comedies. First published in 1600, it is set in Italy and recounts the romantic misadventures of a large cast of characters. Faked deaths, arranged marriages, foiled plots, veiled maidens, shipwrecks, aristocrats, whispered words of love--the usual suspects are all here. But in the end, all is well that ends well.

• Used

  Hardcover
  1979

  $4.61

  The Players' Shakespeare series presents hardback editions of Shakespeare's plays for use in schools. The text is supported by detailed notes and is suitable for GCSE and A level.

• New

  Paperback
  1995

  $7.61

  Edited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, Research Professor of English, University of Sussex. The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare Series presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works. The textual editing takes account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal. Much Ado About Nothing has long been celebrated as one of Shakespeare's most popular comedies. The central relationship, between Benedick and Beatrice, is wittily combative until love prevails. Broader comedy is provided by Dogberry, Verges and the watchmen. The drama ranges between the destructively sinister and the lyrically romantic, giving the whole a complex and sometimes problematic character. Numerous revivals, in the theatre and on screen, have displayed the lively variety and interpretative openness of this engaging comedy.