The Signet Classics edition of William Shakespeare's grand romantic comedy.

Much Ado About Nothing casts the lovers Benedick and Beatrice in a witty war of words while the young Claudio is tricked into believing his love Hero has been unfaithful in this play that combines robust humor with explorations on honor and shame. 

This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:

• An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, David L. Stevenson
• A note on the sources from which Shakespeare derived Much Ado About Nothing
• Dramatic criticism from Charles Gildon, Lewis Carroll, George Bernard Shaw, and others
• A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions
• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text
• And more...
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. View titles by William Shakespeare
Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare - Edited by David L. Stevenson Charles Gildon: The Argument of ?Much Ado About Nothing?
Lewis Carroll: A Letter to Ellen Terry
George Bernard Shaw: Shakespeare?s Merry Gentlemen
Donald A. Stauffer: From Shakespeare?s World of Images
W. H. Auden: From The Dyer?s Hand
Carol Thomas Neely: Broken Nuptials in ?Much Ado About Nothing?
Sylvan Barnet: ?Much Ado About Nothing? on the Stage

NEWLY ADDED ESSAY:
Robert Smallwood: Three Ways to Begin ?Much Ado About Nothing?

Educator Guide for Much Ado About Nothing

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Praise for William Shakespeare: Complete Works:“A feast of literary and historical information.” —The Wall Street Journal

About

The Signet Classics edition of William Shakespeare's grand romantic comedy.

Much Ado About Nothing casts the lovers Benedick and Beatrice in a witty war of words while the young Claudio is tricked into believing his love Hero has been unfaithful in this play that combines robust humor with explorations on honor and shame. 

This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:

• An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, David L. Stevenson
• A note on the sources from which Shakespeare derived Much Ado About Nothing
• Dramatic criticism from Charles Gildon, Lewis Carroll, George Bernard Shaw, and others
• A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions
• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text
• And more...

Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was a poet, playwright, and actor who is widely regarded as one of the most influential writers in the history of the English language. Often referred to as the Bard of Avon, Shakespeare's vast body of work includes comedic, tragic, and historical plays; poems; and 154 sonnets. His dramatic works have been translated into every major language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. View titles by William Shakespeare

Table of Contents

Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare - Edited by David L. Stevenson Charles Gildon: The Argument of ?Much Ado About Nothing?
Lewis Carroll: A Letter to Ellen Terry
George Bernard Shaw: Shakespeare?s Merry Gentlemen
Donald A. Stauffer: From Shakespeare?s World of Images
W. H. Auden: From The Dyer?s Hand
Carol Thomas Neely: Broken Nuptials in ?Much Ado About Nothing?
Sylvan Barnet: ?Much Ado About Nothing? on the Stage

NEWLY ADDED ESSAY:
Robert Smallwood: Three Ways to Begin ?Much Ado About Nothing?

Guides

Educator Guide for Much Ado About Nothing

Classroom-based guides appropriate for schools and colleges provide pre-reading and classroom activities, discussion questions connected to the curriculum, further reading, and resources.

(Please note: the guide displayed here is the most recently uploaded version; while unlikely, any page citation discrepancies between the guide and book is likely due to pagination differences between a book’s different formats.)

Praise

Praise for William Shakespeare: Complete Works:“A feast of literary and historical information.” —The Wall Street Journal

Books for Native American Heritage Month

In celebration of Native American Heritage Month this November, Penguin Random House Education is highlighting books that detail the history of Native Americans, and stories that explore Native American culture and experiences. Browse our collections here: Native American Creators Native American History & Culture

Read more

2024 Middle and High School Collections

The Penguin Random House Education Middle School and High School Digital Collections feature outstanding fiction and nonfiction from the children’s, adult, DK, and Grupo Editorial divisions, as well as publishers distributed by Penguin Random House. Peruse online or download these valuable resources to discover great books in specific topic areas such as: English Language Arts,

Read more

PRH Education High School Collections

All reading communities should contain protected time for the sake of reading. Independent reading practices emphasize the process of making meaning through reading, not an end product. The school culture (teachers, administration, etc.) should affirm this daily practice time as inherently important instructional time for all readers. (NCTE, 2019)   The Penguin Random House High

Read more

PRH Education Translanguaging Collections

Translanguaging is a communicative practice of bilinguals and multilinguals, that is, it is a practice whereby bilinguals and multilinguals use their entire linguistic repertoire to communicate and make meaning (García, 2009; García, Ibarra Johnson, & Seltzer, 2017)   It is through that lens that we have partnered with teacher educators and bilingual education experts, Drs.

Read more