The Winters Tale is one of Shakespeares most varied theatrically selfconscious and emotionally wideranging plays. This edition provides a newlyedited text a com... » 

The Winters Tale is one of Shakespeares most varied theatrically selfconscious and emotionally wideranging plays. This edition provides a newlyedited text a comprehensive introduction that takes into account currentcritical thinking and a detailed commentary on the plays language designed tomake it easily accessible to contemporary readers. Much of the playscopiousness inheres in its generic intermingling of tragedy comedy romancepastoral and the history play. In addition to dates and sources theintroduction attends to iterative patterns the nature and cause of Leontesjealousy the staging and meaning of the bear episode and the thematic andstructural implications of the figure of Time. Special attention is paid to theending and its tempered happiness. Performance history is integrated throughoutthe introduction and commentary. Textual analysis four appendices includingthe theatrical practice of doubling and a select chronology of performancehistory and a reading list complete the edition. «