The Winter's Tale

This facsimile edition of The Winter's Tale is taken from the large and handsome book known simply as the ‘First Folio’. This is the earliest collected edition of Shakespeare’s plays and was was printed in 1623, just seven years after his death.


For students of The Winter's Tale, going back to these First Folio plays is an essential part of a more complete understanding of Shakespeare's work.


Eighteen of Shakespeare’s plays had already been published in the small, cheap format known as quartos during his lifetime, including such favourites as A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Hamlet and Romeo and Juliet. The First Folio added another eighteen, including Macbeth, The Tempest and Twelfth Night all of which are indispensable to the modern repertory. Without the First Folio only half of Shakespeare’s dramatic output would have survived.


The Winter's Tale is classed as one of Shakespeare's comedies, although the inclusion of drama and romance have lead it to be called one of Shakespeare's "problem plays". It borrows from Robert Greene's 'Pandosto', published in 1588, and The Winter's Tale itself was written as late as 1610 or 1611.


This is an enhanced eBookTreasures facsimile edition which includes a speech from the play performed with 17th century pronunciation, allowing you to hear the play as Shakespeare would.