Twelfth Night

One of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies turns on shipwreck, disguise, and tangled desire. Washed ashore in Illyria and believing her twin brother drowned, Viola dresses as a young man named Cesario and enters the service of Duke Orsino. She soon loves the Duke, who sends her to woo the countess Olivia on his behalf, and Olivia promptly falls for the disguised messenger instead. Meanwhile the household steward Malvolio is gulled into a humiliating scheme by the riotous Sir Toby Belch and his companions. Mistaken identity, quick wit, and the melancholy songs of the clown Feste give the play its bittersweet balance of laughter and longing. Written around 1601, it remains a stage favorite. This free PDF and EPUB edition offers the full text.