The authoritative edition of Cymbeline from The Folger Shakespeare
Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and
general readers.
Cymbeline tells the story of a British king, Cymbeline, and his three
children, presented as though they are in a fairy tale. The secret
marriage of Cymbeline's daughter, Imogen, triggers much of the action,
which includes villainous slander, homicidal jealousy, cross-gender
disguise, a deathlike trance, and the appearance of Jupiter in a vision.
Kidnapped in infancy, Cymbeline's two sons are raised in a Welsh cave.
As young men, they rescue a starving stranger (Imogen in disguise); kill
Cymbeline's stepson; and fight with almost superhuman valor against the
Roman army. The king, meanwhile, takes on a Roman invasion rather than
pay a tribute. He too is a familiar figure--a father who loses his
children and miraculously finds them years later; a king who defeats an
army and grants pardon to all.
Cymbeline displays unusually powerful emotions with a tremendous
charge. Like some of Shakespeare's other late work--especially The
Winter's Tale and The Tempest--it is an improbable story lifted into
a nearly mythic realm.
This edition 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 Cynthia Marshall
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.
