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The Winter's Tale

william shakespeare library 1stworld library 1stworld library

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ARCHIDAMUS. If you shall chance, Camillo, to visit Bohemia, on the like occasion whereon my services are now on foot, you shall see, as I have said, great difference betwixt our Bohemia and your Sicilia. CAMILLO. I think this coming summer the King of Sicilia means to pay Bohemia the visitation which he justly owes him.

116 pages, Paperback

First published January 1,1623
Places
sicily, bohemia, 

This edition

Format
116 pages, Paperback
Published
November 12, 2005 by 1st World Publishing
ISBN
9781421813745
ASIN
1421813742
Language
English
Characters More characters

More editions

About the author

Profile Image for william shakespeare

william shakespeare

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William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".

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Community Reviews

Rating(4 / 5.0, 98 votes)
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98 reviews All reviews
Profile Image for Kimberly .
PlotLover
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I vividly remember listening to my 12th grade English teacher expound on the reasons why he didn't have an affinity for the book.

He claimed that it had an excess of elements. There was the romance, the lost child, the political intrigue, the clown, and even magic.

However, that is precisely the very reason why I hold it dear. It is a magnificent jumble of all the things that Shakespeare adored to explore.

I have a profound love for the surprisingly robust and well-developed female characters within it.

I am enamored with the story and the wild adventures that unfold, yet all of them are firmly rooted in an emotional narrative about love, family, and regret.

Perhaps The Winter's Tale may not possess the tragic heft of Lear or Hamlet, but it has always been my absolute favorite to peruse.

It holds a special place in my heart, captivating me with its unique blend of elements and its ability to touch upon the deepest emotions.
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akiachan
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Listened to an audio play version of a Shakespeare play.

At first, I was completely engaged in the story. However, as it progressed, I started losing the thread of the story.

Despite that, I really enjoyed the dialogue, which was as captivating as it always is in a Shakespeare play.

The words seemed to dance and come alive, painting vivid pictures in my mind.

It was a truly unique experience.

I realized that this is one play that I'll definitely have to revisit.

I want to fully understand the story and immerse myself in the world that Shakespeare has created.

Perhaps the next time I listen or watch it, I'll be able to follow the plot more easily and appreciate all the nuances and subtleties.

For now, I'll hold onto the memory of the beautiful dialogue and look forward to my next encounter with this wonderful play.

"Exit, pursued by a bear." This line, in particular, left a lasting impression on me. It was so unexpected and added a touch of drama and excitement to the play.

Overall, it was a great listening experience, and I can't wait to explore more of Shakespeare's works.
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Magicfist
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Reading this Shakespeare play was somehow really exciting, as its structure reminded me so much of the "Greek" classics. The way the story unfolds, the characters develop, and the conflicts arise and are resolved is truly captivating. It's like taking a journey through time and experiencing the art and drama of a bygone era.


And that ending! What a surprise it was. I definitely didn't see it coming. It added an extra layer of depth and complexity to the whole story, making me think and reflect long after I had finished reading. Shakespeare really knew how to keep his audience on the edge of their seats until the very last moment.


Overall, it was a wonderful reading experience that I would highly recommend to anyone who loves literature and wants to explore the works of one of the greatest playwrights of all time.

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bar3
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I really enjoyed the audiobook.

Even though I was "cold" without any background information or prior knowledge of the story, I could still follow the main plot and characters quite well.

I intended to read this along with The Literary Life Podcast and knew that we could read it as our next play in our homeschool after Love's Labour's Lost. So, I wasn't overly concerned with finding every nuance or detail. I just wanted to follow the story well enough to understand the main narrative.

There were several quotes that I'm sure I will mark when I read and listen to it with the kids. I liked the fact that it was a princess (rather than a prince) who was raised by wild people, which turned that aspect of the story on its head. The jealousies and fears, the repentance and forgiveness (albeit long awaited!), and the miracles? The wise woman and man who protected and rebuked as deserved? I really enjoyed all of these elements.

Plus, it was my third Audible book of 2020. [happy dance] I'm looking forward to many more great listens in the future.
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HairDryer
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Reviews of audio books count, so I guess watching a play should, too. Perhaps more so, as that was the author's intended medium.


I saw a stage production of The Winter's Tale a few days after finishing Jeanette Winterson's modern novelisation, The Gap of Time. My mother tells me I saw the play in my late teens, but I have no memory of it. My knowledge of the plot was from Winterson's summary and then her adaptation.


I enjoyed the play, but it was odder than I expected. It's usually categorised as one of the "problem plays" because it is both tragedy and comedy. Many key events happen off-stage, like deaths, but it does have the famous "Exit, pursued by bear". Somehow, it worked.


In Act one, a happy family and court are established before things fall apart due to the tragic madness of King Leontes, who believes a lie about his pregnant wife's baby. His wife's steadfastness is admirable but maybe stretches credulity. The actions demanded of some under the guise of loyalty are more problematic, making me think of Zimbardo's and Milgram's experiments. Death comes to the court.


The second act fast forwards sixteen years to a lively sheep-shearing festival with young love and comic routines. The more subtle theme is about the goodness in ordinary people, like selfless love.


It ends with revelations, resolution, and a transformation that could be magic, an hallucination, or a trick. There's forgiveness and a happy ending, another reason it's not a tragedy, but it's still strange.



Image of Dench and Branagh, 2016: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/content/da...
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DxrkWolfx
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The play, which is adapted from Robert Greene's pastoral romance 'Pandosto', commences with Leontes, the King of Sicilia. He unjustly suspects his wife Hermione of having an affair with his childhood best friend Polixenes, the King of Bohemia. This unfounded suspicion sets off a chain of events that leads to chaos. The king's jealousy not only destroys his friendship with Polixenes but also shatters his marriage and family. However, despite the turmoil and heartbreak, the play concludes with a somewhat forced happy ending.


It is truly a testament to the author's remarkable talent that he manages to make Leontes seem worthy of happiness once again after he has endured sixteen years of loss and pain. Nevertheless, the whole statue scene is a little eerie and creepy. Still, as always, the language used in the play is magnificent.


All in all, 'The Winter's Tale' can be perceived as a tragedy that unexpectedly ends like a comedy, depending on one's perspective while reading it or how the director decides to present it to the audience.

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Damnits
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Another husband, who happens to be a king this time, wrongly concludes that his wife, Hermoine, is having an affair with the king from yonder. He convinces himself that the child she is carrying is a result of this supposed affair. So, he hires an assassin for the other king (hoping not to start a war) and locks up his wife.

But things don't go as expected. The assassin decides that this is all nonsense and instead helps the other king escape to safety. Meanwhile, Hermoine's sapphic lover, Paulina (yes, they were more than just friends!), tries to convince the king that his wife would never cheat on him with a man. Even the king's nobles speak up, saying that his wife is virtuous and the baby is obviously his.

This is the first time one of these foolish men faces immediate and strong opposition from all sides, which I really enjoyed. And then, out of nowhere, a bear attacks! The drama of the first three acts then transforms into a standard lost-princess/forgotten identity rom-com. In the end, everything comes together, and everyone lives happily ever after. The only thing I would have changed is that Hermoine reveals herself to still be alive. Instead, she and Paulina should have run off together and found a cottage somewhere to live in peaceful bliss.

This is the last play in my Shakespeare challenge, and I'm glad it was a good one after a series of semi-mediocre plays. It's a fitting end to my exploration of Shakespeare's works.
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maidenstear
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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    [Exit, pursued by a bear.]
  




I clearly understand why this moment is so iconic. It leaves a lasting impression.


I originally intended to read The Winter's Tale in its original English. Before this, I had only read Shakespeare's works in translation. However, when I reached the 8% mark and came across this piece of dialogue:

  Why, that's my bawcock. What! hast smutch'd thy nose?— They say it is a copy out of mine. Come, captain, We must be neat;—not neat, but cleanly, captain: And yet the steer, the heifer, and the calf, Are all call'd neat.— [Observing POLIXENES and HERMIONE] Still virginalling Upon his palm?—How now, you wanton calf! Art thou my calf?




I had to give up. It was just far too confusing for me to comprehend. So, I decided to resume reading the Russian translation instead.


The plot of the play seemed to be set in motion rather randomly. Leontes's sudden bout of jealousy came out of nowhere. After my initial surprise, I simply accepted all the impossible and improbable events that were unfolding.


Nevertheless, Shakespeare's remarkable ability to change everything in the final 1 - 2% of the play truly gave me a sense of whiplash. The ending felt extremely abrupt. I had a strong desire to find out more about Hermione and the statue. In fact, I even suspected that my ebook might have been cut short by mistake.


Overall, it was an okay read. It didn't have as profound an impact on me as some of Shakespeare's other works. But still, it had its moments that made it worth the effort.

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