In All's Well That Ends Well, Helen, a lowly ward, risks her life to
satisfy her boundless love for Bertram, a count and ward to the King of
France. Following him to Paris, she concocts an endangering plan to win
the King of France's favour and induce Bertram's hand in marriage.
In the comprehensive introduction to this new, fully-illustrated Arden
edition, Suzanne Gossett takes a transformative look at the play's
critical and performance history by offering fresh perspectives on the
conundrum of genre, sexuality and moral dilemmas with masculinity and
the structures of family. The authoritative play text is amply annotated
to clarify its language and allusions, and two appendices debate the
play's authorship and review its casting. Offering students and scholars
alike a wealth of insight and new research, this edition maintains the
rigorous standards of the Arden Shakespeare.