Much Ado About Nothing of the Ratna Sagar Shakespeare Series is enriched with complete text of the original play, plenty of short notes that explain and interpret the text, summary of each scene, as well as useful commentary on the life and times of Shakespeare, Elizabethan theatre, sources and genre, characters, plot, themes, and motifs, literary devices and figures of speech. A comedy of errors, the title of the play is justified by the utter confusion in the plot that arises out of nothing. Replete with sparkling dialogues, the play has also been described as a comedy of wit. This edition of Much Ado About Nothing is enriched with exhaustive annotations and notes.This enriched edition of Much Ado About Nothing has exhaustive annotations and notes. As suggested by its title, the play is a comedy of errors in which a lot of fuss and confusion is created over nothing. The title also plays on the word 'nothing', pronounced as 'noting' in Elizabethan English. 'Noting' refers to the manner in which people note or eavesdrop, and pass on information. The action over the course of the play largely arises because of noting and deceit, as the characters are directly or indirectly affected by eavesdropping and gossip. Claudio and Hero's relationship suffers due to the malicious misinformation of Don John and Borachio. On the other hand, Benedick and Beatrice's relationship develops as a result of the well-intended deceit and gossip of Don Pedro, Claudio, Leonato, Hero, and Ursula.   Set in Messina, Italy, the action of the play mostly takes place in and around the house of Leonato, the Governor of Messina, who lives with his daughter, Hero, and his witty niece, Beatrice. The play commences with Don Pedro, the Prince of Arragon, and his followers Benedick and Claudio visiting Leonato with the prince's illegitimate brother Don John, who had rebelled against him but is now reconciled. It is revealed that Claudio loves Hero and wishes to propose to her. While the Claudio-Hero relationship forms the main plot of the play, the sub-plot is provided by the love-hate relationship between Benedick and Beatrice, whose interactions oscillate between fondness and witty sarcasm from the very beginning. In the initial part of the play, there is a masked dance in which Don Pedro pretends to be Claudio, woos Hero on his behalf, and asks Leonato for Hero's hand in marriage to Claudio. As all is settled for the prospective marriage of Claudio and Hero within a week, the bitter and sullen Don John concocts a plan with his underling Borachio to spoil the happiness of Claudio, the 'young start-up' who 'hath all the glory of my overthrow'. As a game of deceit and manipulation begins, Don John and Borachio execute their plan to lead Claudio into believing Hero's infidelity. An enraged Claudio shames and rejects Hero in front of the wedding congregation the next day. Leonato is devastated, and Hero faints, at which Claudio and Don Pedro leave her for dead. Friar Francis believes in Hero's innocence, and devises the plan to publish the report of her death so as to convert the slander against her into pity, and make Claudio realize her worth and repent for disgracing her.   Meanwhile, the scene shifts to the members of the Watch, with the head constable Dogberry, his partner Verges, and two watchmen. Although they are the comedians of the play, these farcical detectives are the ones who finally uncover the truth of Don John's villainy. Once Don John's plot is revealed, Don Pedro and Claudio repent for their action and apologize to Leonato, who asks Claudio to hang an epitaph on Hero's 'tomb', and then marry his 'niece', who is 'the copy of my child that's dead', as penance. Claudio agrees, and on the day of the wedding the lady is revealed to be none other than Hero herself. With the resolution of the Claudio-Hero relationship, Benedick and Beatrice too confess their love for each other, but not without the customary bout of wit. A messenger arrives to inform all that Don John has been captured while trying to flee. With poetic justice served and all conflicts resolved, the play ends with a celebratory dance.

Much Ado About Nothing: Playgoer's Edition (The Arden Shakespeare)

Literature & Fiction

Humphreys, A. R.

Dramas & Plays

Arden

The Augustan World: Life and Letters in Eighteenth-Century England (Routledge Library Editions: 18th Century Literature)

The outlook of writers in the eighteenth century was profoundly influenced by the social and intellectual interests of Augustan life. Originally published in 1954, this book aims to describe that influence, and to set the literature of the period in its social environment with a critical attention. The treatment is compact but readable, and effective use is made of quotations from contemporary literature.

History & Criticism

Routledge

Much ado about nothing (The Arden Shakespeare)

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.

Much Ado About Nothing (The Arden Shakespeare)

Shakespeare., William

Bloomsbury Arden

Hotspur is dead and a new rebellion against the king is forming, supported by his father the Earl of Northumberland. The moving continuation of King Henry IV Part 1 delves into a broad spectrum of society, from Falstaff and his shadowy associations to the nobility and high court. Prince Hal, though he has proven himself in battle, is still hanging around in bawdy taverns and keeping lowly company. His father fears he is entirely unsuited for kingship. But Hal matures, leaving behind his relationship with Falstaff, and reconciles with his dying father. Falstaff, meanwhile, has been sent to raise a scratch militia, meeting all kinds of comic characters in the country. Every bit as compelling as the first part, this drama embodies Shakespeare at the height of his writing maturity.

King Henry IV (The Arden Shakespeare)

First published in 1937 by Arthur Raleigh Humphreys, this four-part volume traces the life of the English poet William Shenstone (1714-1763) from his birth in Halesowen, Shropshire to his death at the famous estate, The Leasowes. Through a detailed examination of Shenstone's poetical works and personal correspondence, Professor Humphreys assembles a vivid sketch of his life and character while also setting right some of the damages of neglect done to his literary legacy. This work remains one of the few reliable studies of a poet on whom too little scholarship exists.

William Shenstone

British & Irish

Cambridge University Press

The Augustan world: Life and letters in eighteenth-century England

Folcroft Library Editions

R. West

The Arden Shakespeare is the established edition of Shakespeare's work. Justly celebrated for its authoritative scholarship and invaluable commentary, Arden guides you a richer understanding and appreciation of Shakespeare's plays. This edition of Much Ado About Nothing provides, a clear and authoritative text, detailed notes and commentary on the same page as the text, a full introduction discussing the critical and historical background to the play and appendices presenting sources and relevant extracts.

Much Ado About Nothing - Arden Shakespeare: Second Series - Paperback

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Books by Humphreys, A. R.

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Humphreys, A. R.. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Much Ado About Nothing: Playgoer's Edition (The Arden Shakespeare)

The Augustan World: Life and Letters in Eighteenth-Century England (Routledge Library Editions: 18th Century Literature)

The Augustan World: Life and Letters in Eighteenth-Century England (Routledge Library Editions: 18th Century Literature)

Much Ado About Nothing (The Arden Shakespeare)

King Henry IV (The Arden Shakespeare)

William Shenstone

The Augustan world: Life and letters in eighteenth-century England

The Augustan world: Life and letters in eighteenth-century England

Much Ado About Nothing - Arden Shakespeare: Second Series - Paperback