The Merry Wives of Windsor was almost certainly required at short notice for a court occasion in 1597: Shakespeare threw into it all the creative energy that went into his Henry IV plays. Falstaff is here with Pistol Mistress Quickly & Justice Shallow in a spirited & warm-hearted citizen comedy. Boisterous action is combined with situational irony & rich characterization. In his introduction T. W. Craik discusses the plays probable occasion (the Garter Feast of 1597 at court) its relationship to Shakespeares English history plays & to other sources its textual history (with particular reference to the widely diverging 1623 Folio & 1602 Quarto) & its original quality as drama. He assesses various interpretations of the play topical critical & theatrical. In the commentary he pays particular attention to expounding the literal sense (he proposes some new readings) & evoking the stage business. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford Worlds Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxfords commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more.