Twelfth Night (Annotated with Biography and Critical Essay)

Twelfth Night is the only one of Shakespeare’s plays to have a double title – the other title being What You Will.  This play is a comedy with an intricate plot and dozens of jokes to keep an audience entertained.  It was written circa 1601 and the setting is Illyria, a fictional country. Shakespeare’s inspiration for the story came from Riche his Farewell to Militarie Profession, written in 1581 by Englishman Barnabe Riche.

The Duke of Illyria is one Orsino.   Illyria appears to be a place where very little is happening and the inhabitants are somewhat bored.  When the play begins, Orsino is courting Countess Olivia.  Olivia, however, is in no mood for courting, as she has just lost her brother and is mourning her loss.  Even so, her uncle Sir Toby Belch is matchmaking.  He thinks she would make a suitable mate for the dubious buffoon Sir Andrew Aguecheek.  Sir Andrew and Sir Toby spend much of their time drinking with a clown named Feste.  

This annotated edition includes a biography and critical essay.