"Comedies," as one of William Shakespeare's contemporaries wrote, "begin in trouble and end in peace." This is certainly true of the four masterworks selected for this collection, each of which represents a significant stage in the Bard's development as a writer. Reading these plays, we sample the whole comic spectrum of the Elizabethan world.

This comedy collection in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes:

- An overview of William Shakespeare's life, world, and theater
- A special introduction by the series' general editor, Sylvan Barnet
- Reliable texts by noted Shakespeare scholars
- Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable format
- Recommended readings