The Signet Classics edition of William Shakespeare's comedy of lovers misled. Romantic folly and false identites abound as an unusual love triangle takes the stage in this play about Orsino, the infatuated Duke of Illyria; Olivia, the countess he pursues; and Viola, the woman disguised as a man who comes between them. This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as: • An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater • A special introduction to the play by the editor, Herschel Baker • Selections from Barnabe Rich, Of Apolonius and Silla, the source from which Shakespeare derived Twelfth Night • Dramatic criticism from Samuel Johnson, William Hazlitt, Charles Lamb, and others • A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions • Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text • And more...

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

Set in a topsy-turvy world like a holiday revel, this comedy devises a romantic plot around separated twins, misplaced passions, and mistaken identity. Juxtaposed to it is the satirical story of a self-deluded steward who dreams of becoming "Count Malvolio" only to receive his comeuppance at the hands of the merrymakers he wishes to suppress. The two plots combine to create a farce touched with melancholy, mixed throughout with seductively beautiful explorations on the themes of love and time, and the play ends, not with laughter, but with a clown's sad song. Each Edition Includes: • Comprehensive explanatory notes • Vivid introductions and the most up-to-date scholarship • Clear, modernized spelling and punctuation, enabling contemporary readers to understand the Elizabethan English • Completely updated, detailed bibliographies and performance histories • An interpretive essay on film adaptations of the play, along with an extensive filmography

Twelfth Night - William Shakespeare - Edited by Herschel Baker Samuel Johnson: From The Plays of William Shakespeare William Hazlitt: From Characters of Shakespeare?s Plays Charles Lamb: On the Character of Malvolio Harley Granville-Barker: Director?s Preface Linda Bamber: Comedy, Women, and Development Robert Kimbrough: Androgyny in ?Twelfth Night? Sylvan Barnet: ?Twelfth Night? on the Stage

NEWLY ADDED ESSAY: Jean E. Howard: Cross-dressing in ?Twelfth Night?