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Twelfth Night (Folger Shakespeare Library)
Named 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.
Onto 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.
The authoritative edition of Twelfth Night from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:
-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading
Essay by Catherine Belsey
The 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.
Onto 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.
The authoritative edition of Twelfth Night from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers, includes:
-Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
-Full explanatory notes conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play
-Scene-by-scene plot summaries
-A key to the play’s famous lines and phrases
-An introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language
-An essay by a leading Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play
-Fresh images from the Folger Shakespeare Library’s vast holdings of rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading
Essay by Catherine Belsey
The 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.
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Community Reviews
I read this book for school. I really enjoyed the story, especially with the parts where the twins dressed as each other, causing mistaken identity humor.
The story is fun, but a little crazy in parts. I do recommend the book.
The story is fun, but a little crazy in parts. I do recommend the book.
This play was hilarious. I read it out loud with my friend, Anna, and we were making fun of the characters' antics the whole time.
Every character was so fun to read. Toby, Maria, and Andrew are such a chaotic trio, and the Fools have great lines and songs. Of course, the main characters are in a ridiculous love tangle because it's Shakespeare, with the added bonus of Viola having to dress up like a man just to further complicate things. Also, this is yet another Shakespeare play with a gay Antonio, which is always good to see.
Anyway, I usually go for the tragedies, but this comedy was great â I definitely recommend it as a good introduction for anyone who's wary of Shakespeare.
Every character was so fun to read. Toby, Maria, and Andrew are such a chaotic trio, and the Fools have great lines and songs. Of course, the main characters are in a ridiculous love tangle because it's Shakespeare, with the added bonus of Viola having to dress up like a man just to further complicate things. Also, this is yet another Shakespeare play with a gay Antonio, which is always good to see.
Anyway, I usually go for the tragedies, but this comedy was great â I definitely recommend it as a good introduction for anyone who's wary of Shakespeare.
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