In Cymbeline, Ancient Britain's female heir to the throne is slandered
by a decadent Italian while the Romans invade Britain to retain it as
part of their empire. Shakespeare's late romance is full of
unpredictable conjunctions that are explored in the comprehensive
introduction to this new, fully-illustrated Arden edition. Valerie Wayne
takes a transformative look at the play's critical and performance
history by examining its attention to gender, calumny and sexuality
together with nationhood, colonialism and British identities. The
authoritative play text is amply annotated to clarify its language and
allusions, and three appendices delineate the play's textual history,
its rich use of music and its casting. Offering students and scholars
alike a wealth of insight and new research, this edition maintains the
rigorous standards of the Arden Shakespeare.