Fair Em

When William the Conqueror falls in love with a portrait of Blanch, princess of Denmark, he sets out disguised as a common knight to win her hand, only to find that courtship quickly turns into intrigue, rivalry, and mistaken identity. At the same time, the play opens in Manchester, where the Miller and his daughter Em live under the shadow of conquest, hiding former gentility beneath humble labor as they navigate a world where rank, virtue, and desire rarely align. Across both court and mill, suitors compete, disguise themselves, and test one another's honor. William, as "Robert Windsor," courts Blanch and later Mariana, while Marquis Lubeck, Manvile, Valingford, and Mountney all become entangled in jealous love triangles and strategic alliances. Em, pursued by several gentlemen, uses a desperate ruse, pretending to be blind and deaf to escape their conflicting claims, with Trotter's rough wit adding comic energy to the deception. As private longing collides with public ambition, the play blends romantic comedy, social satire, and farce into a lively exploration of love, class, and appearances. This edition has been fully restored with modern typesetting, custom cover design.