The Winter's Tale

A king's sudden jealousy tears his family apart and sets off a chain of loss, exile, and wonder. The Winter's Tale begins in the court of Sicilia, where Leontes accuses his wife Hermione of betraying him with his oldest friend. What follows spans sixteen years and moves from tragedy to pastoral comedy, from a royal palace to a shepherd's field, and finally to a scene of restoration that has astonished audiences for centuries. Along the way, Shakespeare gives us some of his most memorable characters: the fearless Paulina, the roguish Autolycus, the virtuous Perdita, and a bear that has become famous in a single stage direction. The play asks whether time can heal what jealousy destroys, and whether art can bring back what seems lost forever.

This edition is for anyone reading The Winter's Tale for the first time or returning to it after years away. It is ideal for students, book clubs, and general readers who want to understand the play's language and its shifts in mood. The complete text is accompanied by a new introduction that sets the play in its historical and literary context, a character guide to keep the large cast straight, a summary of the plot, a discussion of major themes, a glossary of old and unusual words, and questions to spark conversation.