Twelfth Night: Or What You Will - William Shakespeare

nNamed for the twelfth night after Christmas, the end of the Christmas season, Twelfth Night plays with love and power. The Countess Olivia, a woman with her own household, attracts Duke (or Count) Orsino. Two other would-be suitors are her pretentious steward, Malvolio, and Sir Andrew Aguecheek.

nOnto this scene arrive the twins Viola and Sebastian; caught in a shipwreck, each thinks the other has drowned. Viola disguises herself as a male page and enters Orsino's service. Orsino sends her as his envoy to Olivia--only to have Olivia fall in love with the messenger.

The play complicates, then wonderfully untangles, these relationships. n nThe authoritative edition of Twelfth Night from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes: n n-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play n n-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play n n-Scene-by-scene plot summaries n n-A key to the play's famous lines and phrases n n-An introduction to reading Shakespeare's language n n-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play n n-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books n n-An annotated guide to further reading n nEssay by Catherine Belsey n nThe Folger Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's largest collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of performances and programs.

For more information, visit Folger. edu.n