The Letterpress Merry Wives Windsor
Written at the request of Queen Elizabeth, who wanted to see Falstaff again, this is the only Shakespeare comedy set entirely in England.
Why then, the world’s mine oyster,
Which I with sword will open.
- Act 2, Sc. 2
The Merry Wives of Windsor is traditionally supposed to have been written at the request of Queen Elizabeth, who wanted to see Falstaff again. Whatever the historical facts, she must have been pleased with this glorious romp when it was performed for her (as seems most likely) at Windsor Castle at the Feast of the Garter in 1597. The only comedy by Shakespeare set entirely in England, it is a joy for audiences but a trial for poor Falstaff, who is bundled into a laundry basket, forced to disguise himself as Mother Pratt, the fat woman of Brentford, and finally attacked by children dressed as fairies.
Production Details
Letterpress volume
Limited to 1,000 hand-numbered copies
Hand-bound in goatskin leather, blocked in gold with hand-marbled paper sides
Gilded top edge, ribbon marker
16pt 'Monotype' Baskerville, with Caslon display
Set in hot metal and printed letterpress on mould-made paper
Oxford University Press text under General Editor Stanley Wells
14˝ x 10¾˝
Commentary volume
This includes the text of the play with full explanatory notes
Bound in buckram
8¾˝ x 5¾˝
Presentation box
Bound in buckram
15˝ x 11˝ x 2¾˝
