Merry Wives of Windsor

Eggs

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

#merry #wishesandblessings @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks 👏🏻📚❤️ 3y

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Dogearedcopy

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

I had to read the synopsis of this play a couple times *before* starting! It involves three suitors for the fair Anne and 1 rogue knight scheming to get at the wealth of two wealthy households via seducing the wives… A comedy featuring Falstaff and a very “suburban” cast of characters!

I always struggle a bit w/Shakespeare‘s Comedies (Decoding Early Modern English humor is hard!) so I‘m only 3 acts in; but hoping to wrap it up before the weekend.

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jenniferw88

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

Day 15: #merry

One of the few Shakespeare plays I haven't read!

#maycharacters @Eggs @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Eggs 👏🏻👏🏻 my choice too❣️ 4y

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Eggs

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Shakespeare‘s “merry wives” are Mistress Ford and Mistress Page of the town of Windsor. The two play practical jokes on Mistress Ford‘s jealous husband and a visiting knight, Sir John Falstaff.
#merry #maycharacters @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

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alisonrose

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

so-so

Not the best choice to mark the Bard‘s birthday. I think this is one that you have to see performed to really enjoy, especially since much of the comedic aspects are more like slapstick. You need the facial expressions and vocal inflections and such to make that work. It‘s definitely funny at times and bawdy, and a douchebag guy getting chucked in the river is always a good time. But it‘s def not on par with many of his other comedies. 3/5 ⭐️

batsy I found it pretty meh, as well. 5y

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alisonrose

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

Well, I will find you twenty lascivious turtles ere one chaste man.

[The notes indicate she is actually referencing turtledoves, which is funny enough, but the idea of “lascivious turtles” cracked me up. Also a great band name!)

LiteraryinPA GREAT band name! 5y

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alisonrose

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

I never read more than one book at a time, but since today is Shakespeare‘s birthday, I figured it was only fitting to read my pick of his plays for April. (I‘m working on a project of reading/rereading one Shakespeare play each month.) Have never read this one and don‘t know anything about the plot...but oh well! It‘s a comedy and that‘s all I need to know right now. Happy birthday to the Bard! #nowreading

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alexa_d

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

You know what I love about this play? Its total fanficcy origin. Shakespeare added his OC to this historical RPF epic trilogy, and then once it was finished, BNF @queen_bess was like, “could you pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease write something new with him? idec if it's a modern au comedy or whatever, i just want more falstaff!!!!!!!“. And Shakespeare got all “omg senpai has noticed me!“ and just did it.

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alexa_d

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

It totally counts as reading Shakespeare to just pull up an old BBC production on Kanopy as long as you have the book next to you, right?

alexa_d Hey, young Ben Kingsley is Ford in this production! 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Sorry guys. I almost forgot to post this. With the holiday weekend here in the states, my poor mind is all over the place. How did everyone enjoy Falstaff‘s comeuppance?! It was nice to finally see him get his just rewards, personally. lol
#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong

merelybookish

GingerAntics @wanderinglynn @BiblioLitten @oOArankaOo @TheBookHippie @Wife @saresmoore @DGRachel @CSeydel @Anna40 @readordierachel @Bookishgal71 @kathedron @Susannah @RestlessFickleBookHoarder @IndoorDame @cocomass @InLibrisVeritas @Gezemice 5y

GingerAntics @Mtroiano @KatieanneF @rabbitprincess @rjsthumbelina @CoffeeNBooks @Graywacke @Rachbb3 @batsy @Lcsmcat @zsuzsanna_reads @Balibee146 @Faibka @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Jess_Read_This @wordzie @ladyneverwhere @jewright @readinginthedark 5y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes, I enjoyed the ending! Suddenly it reminded me of Bottom in

A Midsummer Night's Dream

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TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Yes! I agree! 5y

TheBookHippie I‘ve loved this read!!! Flagstaff oh my word. It‘s like justice after all. 🤣 5y

DGRachel I enjoyed how several of the men got a little karmic retribution, and I appreciated how Anne was able to wed the man she wanted and the Pages accepted it in the end. 5y

CoffeeNBooks I loved Anne's trickery and how she fooled so many in order to marry who she wanted to marry. My favorite line was when Falstaff said "I do begin to perceive that I am made an ass." ??? 5y

jewright @CoffeeNBooks I loved that too. 5y

GingerAntics @DGRachel @CoffeeNBooks it did seem like the women had a lot of power and agency in this one. I really enjoyed it. 5y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa he does come off as rather bottom like in the end, doesn‘t he? lol 5y

Graywacke Glad so many people loved this. I had trouble reading it, and enjoying. But I would like to see a performance. I thought the games around Anne let Falstaff off the hook a bit, and undermined, for better or worse, Ms. Page. 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke it did seem a bit like there were two parallel plays as opposed to one cohesive play. 5y

Graywacke @GingerAntics well, there‘s that. But also Ms. Page (and Mr. Page) were silly regarding Anne. And, after all the animosity, Anne‘s marriage washes it away and Falstaff is invited to dinner! So, her plot does really impact the rest of the play. 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke when you put it that way, it actually seems like a really improbably ending. Hm. I may have to revise my review. 5y

26 likes14 comments

merelybookish

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

so-so

This play ends like a sad version of A Midsummer's Night Dream minus the magic and charm. We get a million characters, a complete cipher of a heroine (who are you Anne Page?!), and Falstaff playing a poor man's Bottom. A few funny lines and the plotting wives aren't enough to save the story. I'm reminded again how much I don't really like reading Shakespeare's comedies. 🤷 #shakespearereadalong

erzascarletbookgasm A million characters? 😂 5y

batsy Poor man's Bottom! Teehee 5y

merelybookish @erzascarletbookgasm Give or take a few. 😏 5y

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merelybookish @batsy 🙃 5y

Graywacke Actually, now that you mention it, the comedies are tough to read. The humor is mostly in the performance (potentially). And we did lose Anne... 5y

merelybookish @Graywacke There are some exceptions but so many of the comedies are dependent upon physical humour and how the lines are delivered. 5y

Graywacke @merelybookish Yes, exactly. I like to imagine I can read through that and imagine the performance in my head, but it's not always so easy. 5y

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DGRachel

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

pick

I found this play to be highly entertaining, even more so after having read the Henry History plays. I loved seeing Mistress Page and Mistress Ford put Falstaff in his place. It didn‘t hurt that I‘ve seen the Royal Shakespeare Company‘s 2012 performance, so I had that playing in my head as I read.

GingerAntics Oh you‘ve seen the RSC‘s version of this? I‘ve heard such good things. 5y

DGRachel @GingerAntics It was delightful! 5y

GingerAntics Seeing an RSC production of just about any play is on my bucket list. 5y

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Graywacke

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

so-so

Always enjoy the #shakespearereadalong and glad I have now read this, but it‘s not a favorite Shakespeare on the page. Seems this one is dependent on the performance and if the actors can pull it off, it‘s probably great fun and Fallstaff strikes again, or is brought down again. But hacking through the text is a mixed experience.

GingerAntics

GingerAntics Would love to see it on stage. I agree on it being contingent on the actors, though, 5y

Graywacke @GingerAntics I‘m with you, would love to see it performed. Thanks for leading us through. 5y

batsy Yes, I felt mostly the same. It probably would be so much more enjoyable as a good performance. 5y

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DGRachel I saw a performance through Digital Theatre years ago and unfortunately they changed their service from a purchase per play to a monthly subscription and it‘s been so long since I logged into my account, I‘ve lost access to all the plays I purchased, but it was a fabulous performance - a lot of fun. 5y

Graywacke @batsy I‘m nodding 5y

Graywacke @DGRachel I‘m not familiar with Digital Theatre. Noting. I would like to catch a good performance sometime. 5y

merelybookish This was a so-so for me too. For same reasons. I imagine it's fun to see in performance. All the characters and side jokes would make more sense! 5y

Graywacke @merelybookish yes. Needs several actors coordinating to bring it together. On the page, we‘re having to switch constantly, which breaks up any flow. 5y

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Rachbb3

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

pick

I love the way this ended it had me laughing out loud. 😆
#Shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics Loved the ending on this one. 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

pick

I read this play back in 2015 before I‘d read the Henry IV plays. Falstaff didn‘t really stand out to me so I didn‘t remember him. When I started this reread I wasn‘t too excited about more of Falstaff‘s hijinks (maybe he reminds me too much of the boys-playing-men my age that I seem to always run into). In the end, I was so happy that Falstaff got what was coming to him for three plays now. It‘s about bloody time. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics I enjoyed this play immensely because Falstaff finally got his comeuppance. Falstaff groupies won‘t like this play much, but if he annoyed you to know end in the Henry IV plays, you will greatly enjoy this play. #shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

I have this sort of OCD thing with odd numbers, so I quite enjoyed this bit. In fact, this is probably the only thing Falstaff has ever said that I liked in the least.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #oddnumbers #ocd

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

I‘m not going to lie. I rather enjoyed Falstaff dressing up as a woman and then getting beat up.
#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong

merelybookish

Lcsmcat I haven‘t watched this one yet, but reading it makes it seem like the most slapstick of the comedies. 5y

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Rachbb3 I'm rather enjoying it now. It would be fun to watch this one on the stage. 5y

jewright I love that the husband unpacks all the laundry. The husbands just don‘t give the wives any credit for being honest or clever. 5y

TheBookHippie @Rachbb3 oh I agree!!! It would be fun to watch! 5y

TheBookHippie Flagstaff 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣. I love how many times we get stories of him. I too quite pleased! Ha. This read is a lot of fun. Phew. 5y

TheBookHippie The picture ...👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼 5y

CoffeeNBooks This play continues to be funny as Falstaff keeps falling for the antics! This would definitely be a fun play to watch. 5y

batsy I found that the idea of a man beating up an older woman and that being slapstick comedy quite disturbing, tbh! 5y

GingerAntics @batsy I‘m not sure that‘s meant to be slapstick. I‘m not sure any of this play is meant to be slapstick. Also, this was a period when it was completely acceptable and even encouraged that men should beat women, especially those that didn‘t do what society wanted of them. I don‘t think it was ever seen as slapstick. I think Falstaff getting beaten is meant to be his comeuppance. 5y

GingerAntics @CoffeeNBooks he just keeps walking into these situations. I find it amusing that he just keeps going back. If he had any intelligence, you‘d think he‘d work out that he‘s getting played. 5y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat @Rachbb3 @TheBookHippie I saw a free online production. I haven‘t watched it yet, but I stumbled upon it when I was looking for an audiobook/audio play of this one. I agree this is one of those plays it would absolutely wonderful to see performed. 5y

GingerAntics @jewright that‘s men for ya!!! Especially in this time period. 5y

Graywacke Finally caught up. Admittedly it‘s mildly amusing in text, and would be dependent on the performance. Intrigued by some of the references, like to Faust (apparently referencing Marlowe). Also, interesting cycle. We‘re told what will happen to Falstaff, watch it happen, then we‘re told what happened. Then repeat. 5y

Graywacke Another note. Interesting how Falstaff, while silly, remains verbally adept, squashing Simple, working over the Host, and, earlier, giving “Brook” (Broom) a good story about the washing. Seems he‘s the one most in tune with Shakespeare himself. I mean, they speak the same language, in the same intelligent depth. (edited) 5y

Graywacke Final note on Brook/Broom: my intro says the Brook family was descended from Oldcastle (Falstaff‘s real-world character, sort of). Hence, Shakespeare may have changed the name to Brook to avoid offending this family twice. 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I can definitely see this play being played far too seriously, at which point the amusement and fun of this play would no longer exist. I think it would have to be a production that didn‘t take itself or the text too seriously. That‘s a very valid point. I agree, this play does have some wonderful references to other writers. The Brook vs Broom info is interesting and certainly makes sense. 5y

merelybookish I'm back to feeling like there are too many characters and not being sure who is who and what is what. I expect it's easier to follow on stage. I do enjoy the plotting of the merry wives. 5y

GingerAntics @merelybookish there are a lot of people in this play. Apparently there were so many people and it was so confusing, the LibraVox version switched who ran off with the boy in green and who ran off with the boy in white between telling them which “Anne” to run off with (they got that right) and when they came back to complain they had a boy. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Then again, this LibraVox Play has other issues as well. 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Oh I can‘t wait for the final revenge on Falstaff!!!
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor

SharonAlger Gotta love some Shakespeare! 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

It seems she‘s wrapped up the play pretty nicely with this little rhyme.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor

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batsy

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

so-so

While I found this to be a relatively light read, much of best humour came from Mistress Page, Ford, & Quickly. Anne Page gets some good lines, too. But otherwise this was a depleted & rather slow-brained Falstaff, & a lot of the hijinks felt forced. Some good lines but otherwise pretty meh, sadly. The spot of misogyny of a man hitting an old woman (though that woman was Falstaff in disguise) was a major yikes. #ShakespeareReadAlong @GingerAntics

GingerAntics You‘re done already? Yikes. 5y

Hamlet Yes, it‘s a weak play. The word among Shakespeare scholars is that the Bard whipped this off because there was a clamor for more Falstaff after he‘d run his course in the history plays. 5y

batsy @Hamlet Yup, that's what it reads like! Also I believe the intro to this edition mentions that it was because Queen Elizabeth wanted to see Falstaff in action; the play has its moments but largely feels like a writing exercise 😆 5y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

pick

I have to admit, this one took me awhile to get into... my first thought was not Falstaff again 🙄... but I quickly fell in love watching the Merry Wives of Windsor give this drunken schemer his due, I even felt a tiny bit bad for him by the end (not much though) and enjoyed the conclusion of this tale.

#ShakespeareReadAlong

GingerAntics That‘s my reaction to this play almost exactly!!! 5y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @GingerAntics Yep! 😂 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Falstaff finds himself in a laundry basket (I have a lovely mental image of him in a hamper, personally) to great comic effect, then whines about it to Page/Broom (well in my written edition it‘s Broom, in the audio version it‘s something else, oddly).
#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong

merelybookish

GingerAntics What does your edition use as Ford‘s “code name”? 5y

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Lcsmcat Mine uses Brook as his alias. 5y

CoffeeNBooks Mine uses Brook as his alias, also. This was another interesting act, and I'm looking forward to reading on to see what happens next! 5y

Lcsmcat I just can‘t believe Falstaff is so stupid that he keeps falling for the same trick. 5y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat right? He must really drink a lot. I suppose if he‘s completely toasted he doesn‘t remember? 🤷🏼‍♀️ lol It is amusing to watch, though, 5y

GingerAntics @CoffeeNBooks @Lcsmcat I think my audiobook uses Brook as well. It‘s just the difference of one letter, but I wonder what made my editors go with the M instead of the K? It‘ll be interesting to see if my edition is the only one with the M or not. 5y

jewright Did anyone else wonder about the size and weight of the laundry that Falstaff hid in the laundry basket? This was a fun act though. 5y

GingerAntics @jewright I did sort of in passing, but then amusement overshadowed it until you mentioned it. That‘s certainly a valid point. I have to say, this is one of two parts of this play that we have a ton of photos and art work of. All of it includes a rather large laundry basket, like the size of a laundry basket if a law was passed that everyone household must have only one, that would be found in a home with a baby and a few older children to boot. 5y

Graywacke Mine uses Brook and includes an explanation but I kind of skimmed over it. 😁 Something about how original text says Broom to avoid offending a family with the name of Brook (like Falstaff for Oldcastle) The text seems to play off the Ford/Brook meaning, so it appears to be a late awkward edit. So most editions go “back” to Brook. 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke oh that explains that, then. Okay, so mine just went with what Shakes originally did. 5y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke I was thinking that a ford and a brook were more related than a ford and a broom, so it made sense to me. But I get how you have to appease the powerful. 5y

Lcsmcat @jewright Right! And they go on about how fat he is too. Even a slim man would be heavier than laundry. 5y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat @jewright it does seem a wonder they actually got him out in that basket and didn‘t get caught, unless the servants that carried it out were in on the prank. It seems they would have to be. 5y

merelybookish I'm enjoying this play and laughed out loud when Caius said "I shall make-a the turd." ? I also liked Anne's line about preferring to be bowled to death by turnips (than marry Slender). 5y

merelybookish Hey @GingerAntics you haven't been tagging me. Can you add me back to your list? 😃 5y

GingerAntics @merelybookish I know why. I usually tag you in the original post. I also don‘t have @readinginthedark on the regular list, but I‘m not sure if she‘s reading this one or not. I thought she was. Not sure, though. I knew I was forgetting something when I was posting. lol 5y

Rachbb3 Mine has Ford's alias as Brook. I really like this Act. Falstaff in the dirty laundry. Lol. I was wondering about that basket too. Wouldn't it be usually heavy? But it was still funny. 5y

GingerAntics @Rachbb3 Falstaff as dirty laundry 🧺 💙💙💙 5y

batsy @merelybookish I loved that line 😂 5y

batsy There was a line where Page mentions that Fenton keeps company with "the wild Prince and Poins" and I was just a little too excited to have that throwback reference to Henry IV since we've read it as a group ? Also loved Falstaff's "think of that, Master Brooke!" monologue as he described his trials in the laundry basket to Ford aka Brooke ... which for some reason made me think of Mr Toad in The Wind in the Willows ? 5y

GingerAntics @batsy I do love the little references to Henry IV. The argument of if this goes between parts 1 and 2 of after 2 is still up for debate. I‘m still not sure which I think it is. 5y

GingerAntics @batsy but if it‘s talking about “the wild prince” shouldn‘t that be between? By then end of part 2 he‘s king and he‘s not so wild anymore. I think between is my vote. 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

I really can‘t wait for these two get their revenge in the #GreasyKnight. I think #Falstaff is about to get everything that‘s coming to him after this act. He‘s got Mistress Page and Mistress Ford after him, as well as Master Page.
#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong

CoffeeNBooks I really enjoyed this act! I can't wait to see how this all plays out... 5y

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Graywacke @CoffeeNBooks Me too. Curious 5y

GingerAntics @CoffeeNBooks @Graywacke I‘m with you both. I was so excited for Act III I had to stop myself from reading it last night. 5y

Lcsmcat @CoffeeNBooks @Graywacke Me too! It was hard not to read ahead. 5y

Rachbb3 Same here. I'm wondering what they have in store. I enjoyed the comic relief of the Dr not understanding the insults too. 😆 5y

jewright I can see classic Shakespeare humor about to start. Some fun lines—Mrs. Page— “I will find you twenty lascivious turtles ere one chaste man.” And host—“throw cold water on thy choler” (the early version of take a cold shower!) 5y

GingerAntics @Rachbb3 I‘m going to have to look that up. It sounds fun. lol 5y

GingerAntics @jewright it gets funnier if you remember that “merry” is the early version of horny. lol 5y

batsy I agree, Act 2 was a lot of fun. I enjoyed how Mistress Quickly played Falstaff. 5y

GingerAntics @batsy it‘s great! Isn‘t it? 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

This is my favourite part of Act II, and possibly my favourite reference to Falstaff ever!
#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong #Falstaff #GreasyKnight

TheBookHippie Almost caught up 🤣🤣🤣 unplugging took a toll on my reading too 😳 5y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie sometimes you just gotta unplug, though. 5y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics yes or padded room shall be ordered 🤣🤣🤣 5y

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GingerAntics @TheBookHippie exactly! Constant connection, this crazy 24 hour news cycle, is driving so many people nuts. 5y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I had 10 days off- I feel renewed for sure!!! We are seriously considering one day 24 hour period each week as a family. 5y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie that actually sounds like a good idea. It‘s easy to forget that life exists away from the internet these days. There are certainly days I miss the days before the internet was in every home. 5y

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batsy

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

Me trying to flirt. #starehimoutofhiswits #awehimwithmycudgel

#ShakespeareReadAlong @GingerAntics

Tanisha_A 😂! 5y

sudi 😂😂😂 5y

batsy @Tanisha_A @sudi 😆😆 5y

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GingerAntics 🤣😂🤣 5y

Centique 😂😂😂 I‘ll keep my eye out for a salt-butter rogue for you to practise on some more! 5y

Rishi123 Hii 5y

Rishi123 How r u ? 5y

readordierachel Hahaha! Love it. Salt-butter rogue just rolls off the tongue. 5y

batsy @readordierachel It's so perfect, isn't it 😁 @Centique Why, thank you 😂 5y

Suet624 I imagine that would appeal to someone! 😁 5y

batsy @Suet624 😆 5y

readinginthedark 🤣 5y

saresmoore Bahahahaha! 5y

BiblioLitten 🤣🤣 5y

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Graywacke

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

Been too busy or distracted for any structured online stuff, including Litsy. This will continue for a week at least, until we get through my son‘s Bar Mitzvah. But I have been catching up with the #shakespearereadalong . After Act ii we have a slightly different Falstaff from Henry IV. Same immoral epicurean, but seems the vibrancy has been somewhat replaced with a cold (mis-)calculation and a lot more plot.

GingerAntics

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

@CoffeeNBooks does your version suggest Fenton left at the end of the act when it says exit (at the green part)? Apparently, “out upon‘t” (the red) is an “expression of irritation.” This version, at least, makes it seem like she‘s says “yes, of course she likes you. What‘s not to like?” Then he leaves and she rolls her eyes and admits that she can‘t really stand him.

CoffeeNBooks That makes more sense! In the list of characters in my edition, though, it lists Anne as being in love with Fenton. 🤔 I guess I'll just have to keep reading to find out! 😁 5y

GingerAntics @CoffeeNBooks I‘ve heard he‘s the one that ends up in love with her as opposed to her money. I‘ll keep the other thing I read about Anne and Fenton when I was trying to make a list of her suitors to myself for now. 😏 It does seem Fenton is the preferable option. 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

He‘s back! Falstaff is back in this one. Somehow I don‘t remember him being in this play. Marchette Chute claims this is not the same Falstaff, but it certainly appears to be the same guy, to me. I‘m looking forward to a few women giving him hell!!! What are your thoughts so far with this play?
#Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor #shakespearereadalong

DGRachel My copy of the play says it is the same man, so I was both surprised to see Falstaff and also looking forward to seeing the women give him hell. 😂 I thought it was an interesting coincidence as well that Pandarus is referenced since we just finished T&C. 5y

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GingerAntics @DGRachel my copy says the same. The only person I‘ve been able to find that says it‘s a different guy is Chute, so I‘m going with same guy. The biggest debate is if this happened between Henry IV part 1 and part 2, or after part 2. This does tie to T&C in a couple of ways, it seems. I‘m not sure if that was intentional or if it just sort of happened. I haven‘t been able to find anything that addresses it. 🤷🏼‍♀️ 5y

jewright I noticed the Pandarus reference too. The main part I noticed is how much easier this play is to read that T&C. There are fewer characters too, so that makes it easier to keep track of everyone. 5y

GingerAntics @jewright right? Some of these characters we‘ve seen before in Henry IV as well. 5y

Lcsmcat Falstaff seems to be almost a Punchinello-like character. A type rather than a specific person, if that makes sense. 5y

merelybookish I read the first act this morning and feel like I need to re-read to understand it better. I do struggle with the comedies! 🤷 Everyone wants to marry Miss Page, is that right? 5y

DGRachel @merelybookish Yes, Miss Page does have a fair number of suitors. 😂 5y

GingerAntics @merelybookish @DGRachel I feel like I need to compile a list of all the men who want to court Anne. It‘s hard to keep everyone straight. lol 5y

Rachbb3 I think Anne is the last available unmarried woman on earth. ? At least you would think so by all her suitors. My copy also says that this is the same Falstaff that's in Henry IV. It says that Queen Elizabeth loved the character of Falstaff so much that "she demanded a play with Falstaff in love and that it be written in 14 days". The result is this play. I don't have an opinion on the play yet. Another Act or two should help with that. 5y

GingerAntics @Rachbb3 I‘m working on a master list of everyone who wants her money...oddly, I‘m only at 3 guys, but it does seem like she‘s the last single woman on the planet they way they‘re all after her. Then again, everyone just wants her father‘s money, really. 5y

CoffeeNBooks What am I missing- why does Mistress Quickly tell Fenton so many times how much Anne loves him, only to mention after he leaves that Anne doesn't like him?! What's her motive for telling him that? Did I miss something when I was reading this act? I'm reading this on my phone, which makes it more difficult for me to flip back and forth and re-read previous sections. 5y

GingerAntics @CoffeeNBooks I missed that, but admittedly my audio version is oddly distracting. I went looking for it and there it was, right at the end of Act I, scene 4. That‘s weird. She spends all of the scene telling Fenton that Anne loves him, then switches in the last line of the scene. My version says [exit Fenton] then she says she doesn‘t love him. It also implies she‘s annoyed. Seems like she was telling him what he wanted to hear. 5y

DGRachel @CoffeeNBooks @GingerAntics The suitors seem to be using Mistress Quickly as a matchmaker, not realizing she‘s stringing all of them along. I‘m not sure what she is getting out of the arrangement, if that becomes clearer in later acts, but they are coming to her individually, asking her to press their suits with Anne, and she promises each of them that, of course she will and certainly they will succeed. She‘s a sneaky one, she is. 😂 5y

GingerAntics @DGRachel maybe she‘s getting a cut of the profits. lol Or she figures they‘ll keep coming in to get updates, have a few drinks, so she‘s making money off of them that way. 🤷🏼‍♀️ That‘s an interesting question. We‘ll have to keep an eye on that wiley Mistress Quickly. 5y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @merelybookish Yes...it reminds me of Bianca in the Taming of the Shrew a bit. 5y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @CoffeeNBooks Oddly in my addition, the character list in the very beginning lists “MISTRESS ANNE PAGE, her daughter, in love with Fenton”...so maybe she really does? 🤷‍♀️ 5y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @merelybookish I was just making that comparison as well (more from 10 Things I Hate About You, but same difference in the end). It is very similar. 5y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @CoffeeNBooks I think she really does love him...or maybe she comes to love him over the course of the play? 5y

CoffeeNBooks @Riveted_Reader_Melissa My edition says that, too, so that's why I was so confused. 😂 5y

GingerAntics @CoffeeNBooks I‘m going with she‘s playing him. 🤣😂🤣 5y

batsy Oof, I'm sorry, my mind has been all over the place. I forgot to start! 🤣 I'm going to try to catch up today! 5y

GingerAntics @batsy it‘s been a crazy time. I almost forgot. lol It‘s not a long section, but a lot of “welcome to our world” and “hey look our old buddy Falstaff up to his old shenanigans again” going on. I think I‘ve got the four suiters of Anne pinpointed though. It feels like their should be more of them. 5y

batsy At the moment I don't have much to add to the comments above. I also find it a bit confusing and I think a lot of the jokes, especially involving Evans, are kind of going over my head. Things might clear up in the later Acts. But Falstaff at the moment seems like a shell of himself, which might make him a bit bearable to those who loathe him 😂 5y

GingerAntics @batsy I‘m just looking forward to the women taking the mickey out of him. 😏😈😇 5y

Graywacke Just dropping by to say I am actually reading this. Picked up a Cambridge annotated ebook without appreciating the time commitment that entails. Five hours in I‘m on scene iii. The notes are good though. I have a good sense of the humor of all these characters and the language they use to make that impression. (edited) 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke Language is almost another character all together in this one. It does take some getting a handle on. 5y

Graywacke @GingerAntics falstaff‘s crew - it‘s like each character has his own personal language (often reflecting their status in this stratified society) 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke basically, yeah. Then you have the French guy who mispronounces stuff left and right, sometimes to comical effect, and Evans switching his Vs for Fs. The essay at the beginning of my edition said verbal sparing replaces physical sparring. 5y

Graywacke @CoffeeNBooks @GingerAntics @DGRachel @Riveted_Reader_Melissa ok, just finished Mistress Quickly is working over everyone. She‘s entertaining. No clue if she really knows what Anne thinks. Fenton seems to be just another toy to mess with. But main point seems that she has no debt or fealty to anyone. Everyone is fair game to work over. 5y

Graywacke @merelybookish @batsy @GingerAntics this act is tough. I suspect all the small humor may be strictly of the moment, establishing character types-Slender the simple fool, Pistol and Nim the insecure clever ones, higher up, without morals. And so on. It‘s important that Pistol and Nim establish their social superiority over Slender with language. The Cambridge annotations help a bit, but not sure they help with the big picture all that much. 5y

batsy @Graywacke I'm getting into the swing of things, so to speak, in Act 2. I'm enjoying Mistress Quickly a lot. You make a good point about the form of language for each character as a way of establishing themselves over the other. 5y

17 likes33 comments

Rachbb3

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

I just realized that the first discussion is next weekend and I do not have a copy of this. Amazon to the rescue! 😓
#Shakespearereadalong

Hooked_on_books It‘s a little unwieldy, but if you‘re ever in a Shakespeare pinch again, the full text of all his work is posted here: http://shakespeare.mit.edu/ 5y

GingerAntics No copy at the library? That‘s frustrating. In addition to @Hooked_on_books suggestion, all of his plays are in the public domain, so they are actually really easy to get free copies off. We all tend to prefer paid versions because of the extra essays and stuff, but in a pinch, any free copy will due for a week. (edited) 5y

Rachbb3 @Hooked_on_books Thanks for the info! 😀 5y

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Rachbb3 @GingerAntics I didn't even think about the library. 🤦‍♀️ It must be the heat. 🔥😒 5y

GingerAntics 🤣😂🤣 that is a distinct possibility! It‘s also kind of nice having your own copy for these kinds of things. It‘s much easier to make and keep notes on what you‘ve read that way. 5y

Graywacke I waited too long to request from the library, so looking at amazon e-editions now... (Ican‘t do free editions, I‘m dependent on the notes) 5y

Rachbb3 @Graywacke Same here. 5y

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Lcsmcat

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

Looks like we chose the right play to follow Troilus and Cressida. 😉 #shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics Oh wow, I totally missed that last time I read this (probably because I didn‘t read T&C first. lol)!!! Sweet!!! 5y

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GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Okay, here is the official schedule for The Merry Wives of Windsor. I have probably spent way more time in this than is sane, but I got into a design rabbit whole and I promise I was having fun. Here‘s hoping we enjoy this play as much as I‘ve enjoyed the last hour of my life.
#shakespearereadalong #Shakespeare #MerryWivesofWindsor

merelybookish

Riveted_Reader_Melissa 😂 been there, I‘m glad you had fun! 5y

See All 12 Comments

TheBookHippie 🤣🤣🤣 bravo ! 5y

batsy 😂😂 5y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @TheBookHippie @batsy thanks ladies!!! I almost posted at one point, then realised I had to different date formats and had to start over. 🤷🏼‍♀️ A girl‘s gotta have standards for her work. 😆 (edited) 5y

GingerAntics @jewright have you seen the schedule? 5y

jewright @GingerAntics Yes, I have. 5y

Sace Would it be cheating if I watched the play first then read? I find it so hard to read Shakespeare. I feel stupid saying that. 5y

GingerAntics @RestlessFickleBookHoarder I don‘t think so. 🤣 I think whatever works for you is fair game. I‘ve been having trouble finding an audio play version of this one, but those are very helpful to at least a few of us. 5y

Sace Well what I really want to see is the 2018 Fiona Laird production (pictured) but considering *any* video is hard to come buy I will take whatever poor quality video I can find on YouTube. 5y

GingerAntics @RestlessFickleBookHoarder yeah, video is hard to get. Audio is easier, depending on the play. Sometimes you‘re stuck with LibriVox productions which a literally called in to the point the audio is distracting. 5y

30 likes12 comments

GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Our next play is The Merry Wives of Windsor. I‘ll get the full schedule up tomorrow, but we won‘t do Act I until 4 Aug so everyone has time to finish T&C if you haven‘t yet, and get a copy of this one. If anyone wants to be added or removed for this play, just let me know.
#MerryWivesofWindsor #WilliamShakespeare #shakspearereadalong

merelybookish

Texreader Have you ever been to the Winedale (near Round Top) Shakespeare Festival? My husband‘s taking my daughter the first weekend in August to see Macbeth. 5y

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TheBookHippie Or recover from T and C 🤷🏽‍♀️🤣🤣🤣 5y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie yeah, most of us do need to recover. 🤣😂🤣 (edited) 5y

GingerAntics @Texreader I have not. I‘m not sure where that is, actually. I‘ll have to look into it. 5y

Sace I'm really going to try and join in this time. 5y

DGRachel I'm going to have to see if I can still get into my Digital Theatre account, so I can rewatch this play as well as read it! 5y

GingerAntics @DGRachel I‘ve seen bits of this play in class. Including a scene of one production at the globe cast entirely by men. It was a hoot! I‘d love to see a whole thing. 5y

GingerAntics @RestlessFickleBookHoarder YAAAAAAY!!! Did you attempt T&C? That one was slightly traumatising. I officially know which Shakespeare play should NEVER be used as a first encounter with Shakespeare. lol 5y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie wow, that last one made NO sense. That‘s me without caffeine. Entirely unintelligible. lol 5y

Sace @GingerAntics I'm embarrassed to say that I'm still stuck at Macbeth😔 5y

GingerAntics @RestlessFickleBookHoarder that is a complex play with lots going on and a ridiculous amount of symbolism and imagery. Have you tried an audio play? Those can really help. They also let you experience the pacing of the play a little better. 5y

jewright @GingerAntics I would like to be added to the group. Thank you! 5y

GingerAntics @jewright you‘re added to the list! Welcome to the party! 5y

jewright @GingerAntics Thank you! I‘m looking forward to it. 5y

Gezemice Thanks for hosting! I got kinda stuck with T&C but this looks like fun. 5y

GingerAntics @Gezemice I struggled with T&C as well. I think everyone is looking forward to a lighter play now. 5y

29 likes18 comments

GingerAntics

Merry Wives of Windsor, the Pel (Revised) | William Shakespeare

It‘s time to choose our next play. We originally planned another history, but we might need something lighter after the T&C.

Merry Wives is supposed to be really bawdy and fun.

Love‘s was fun as a stage production. It‘s supposed to be a fun read, too.

Antony & Cleo were second last go around if we‘re feeling brave for another tragedy.

Merchant has some really great speeches.

Comedy of Errors has two sets of twins that get mixed up. 👇🏻👇🏻

merelybookish

GingerAntics And Hal, just in case anyone is feeling up to it, but I‘m not expecting it to get any votes. All of these plays (other than Hal and A&C) I‘ve either read or had highly recommended. Everything is a comedy accept Hal and A&C (history and tragedy respectively). (edited) 5y

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wanderinglynn I vote for a comedy. Merry Wives sounds like fun. 5y

Graywacke They all sound equally good to me and they‘re all new to me. No vote. 5y

TheBookHippie I don‘t dare vote 🤣🤣🤣😳 I promise to read anything !!! 5y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie just not T&C. lol 5y

GingerAntics @wanderinglynn I read Merry Wives back in 2015 for a class. I don‘t remember the story that much, but I remember my prof pointing out all the dirty jokes. lol 5y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I just cannot ... oh my word ..I feel horrible for suggesting it ! Ha 5y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie we all voted. I think we all feel horrible having voted for that madness. Just think though, we‘ve read it, we have not understood it, we can move on to better plays and when we‘ve read them all, we can say with confidence that T&C was horrible and we survived it, but let‘s really talk about the really good ones!!! lol It was painful, but we accomplished something!!! 5y

GingerAntics @wanderinglynn @Graywacke @TheBookHippie I fear we‘re going to get a lot of “voting went terrible last time, I‘ll read whatever you pick this time” after T&C, but I thought I‘d at least give everyone the option. If that‘s the case, Merry Wives would win with one vote thanks to Lynn‘s bravery. 🤣😂🤣 5y

Graywacke ( @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics but it hasn‘t been bad for everyone... ) 5y

GingerAntics @Graywacke true. We did have a few people who liked it. Those folks should be more excited for further voting. Very good point. Fingers crossed for at least a few more votes. I‘m sure we‘ll get more once all the time zones get logged on for their daily check in. (edited) 5y

DGRachel I‘ve seen The Merry Wives of Windsor and loved it, so I‘m totally willing to give that one a go, if you need an official vote, but I‘m also good with any of the comedies. 😊 5y

wanderinglynn I‘ve read & seen Merry Wives (although it‘s been a long while). I remember a lot of bawdy jokes. I prefer his comedies anyway. 5y

GingerAntics @DGRachel @wanderinglynn I saw bits of a few productions in class and they were all actually funny which it seems his comedies aren‘t always all that funny. But then I‘ve seen Love‘s Labours Lost with David Tennant and Catherine Tate, and that was funny too. Maybe we need a streak of these funny ones. lol (edited) 5y

Lcsmcat I vote for Merry Wives, although I‘ll happily read any of them. 5y

DGRachel Yes! I vote for a streak of honestly funny comedies, regardless of which ones they are. 😍😍 5y

GingerAntics @DGRachel that does sound lovely!!! I think those are really easy to find productions and audio versions of online, too. I think we know of those two that are funny, but we‘ll have to see if anyone knows of any others. 5y

CoffeeNBooks My vote is for Comedy of Errors, but I'll read whatever is chosen! 😊 5y

Rachbb3 Comedy of Errors 😁 5y

batsy These all look excellent and I'll be happy to read them all. My vote is for Merry Wives. 5y

batsy (Just looked up the synopsis of the other two comedies and they sound so fun, too! Never read or watched any of those.) 5y

merelybookish Oops. I totally missed this post! But am happy to read anything of course. Lighter fare after T&C makes sense! 5y

GingerAntics @merelybookish 🤣😂🤣 yeah, it seems like almost everyone was up for a lighter read. 5y

20 likes25 comments

Kimberlone

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

I‘m the office this Sunday afternoon, and this is feeling like an appropriate quote for trying to get my stuff done quickly and back to enjoying the rest of my day off!

33 likes

Lcsmcat

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

#honesty #quotsyapril18 @TK-421

47 likes

Blueberry

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

#Aprilbookishmadness #titlestartwithM @maich

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JacintaMCarter

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

Apparently, both Uncle Vernon and Hagrid have played #Falstaff. #SeductiveShakespeare

jenniferw88

50 likes

Stephtck

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

At Shakespeare in the Park in Edmonton waiting for the play to start. It's Merry Wives of Windsor, set in the disco era. Let's see if the time warp works!

4 likes

Larkken

Merry Wives of Windsor | William Shakespeare

Shakespeare! #shakesperience
Because I am terrible at reading plays.
Happy weekend reading/shakesperiences, littens!

Chachic Is this Shakespeare in the Park? I was able to see that twice in Singapore. 7y

Larkken @Chachic yes! They're doing it with southern American accents which is entertaining. Did the ones in Singapore have local flavor? 7y

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Libby1

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

pick

I'm aiming to read one Shakespeare play each month until I have completed them all. I chose The Merry Wives (for April - I was a little behind!) because I knew nothing about the story.

This play is slapstick and capering and joyful and downright silly.

Characters with ridiculous accents? Check.

Antlers? Check.

Disguises and tricks aplenty? Check.

The critics call it a weaker play but I loved it.

(Photo from Google.)

jenniferw88 That's a good idea - I might steal it! ☺️ 8y

Bambolina_81 How funny! I've been revisiting them too. I'm currently on Othello...my favourite 😊 It's great discovering the not so obvious ones. 8y

Libby1 Steal away, @jenniferw88 ! I found I was always intending to get round to them but never did until I made the goal! 8y

Libby1 @Bambolina_81 - I think Othello is next for me, too! I'm trying to read through the ones that are part of the New Shakespeare series in case I get my hands on one of those books. So far from that series I've only read Nutshell, and thought it was brilliant. Do you know about that series?

Nutshell

Bambolina_81 @Libby1 I do and I have Hagseed waiting on my shelf. I like the sound of the Tracy Chevalier take on Othello too. I heard Nutshell is good from another friend of mine so I should add that to the wishlist! 8y

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Libby1

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

Shakespeare may be the master of many things, but he is (intentionally) terrible at writing foreign accents, to humorous effect.

In this passage a Frenchman and a Welshman are arguing over a dual. The quote begins with the innkeeper (Host):

HOST- Disarm them and let them question: let them keep their limbs whole and hack our English.

CAIUS (Frenchman)- I pray you, let-a me speak a word with your ear; Verefore vill you not meet-a me?

Verity I've only seen this as Merry Wives! The Musical at the RSC, but in that Caius managed to make every By gar sound like Bugger (as in the British swear word) which was hilarious. No idea if that's how it's usually done but it worked a treat in that production! 8y

Libby1 @Verity - that sounds amazing. I knew nothing about this play before I started it but I'm really enjoying it. 8y

Bradleygirl 😆 that's amazing. Thanks for reminding me I need to dust off my Shakespeare 8y

30 likes3 comments

Libby1

The Merry Wives of Windsor: A Comedy | William Shakespeare, John Frederick Stanford

I decided earlier this year that I'd like to read one Shakespeare play each month until I've read them all.

This month (I'd better hurry to finish it!) I've chosen The Merry Wives of Windsor.

I know NOTHING about it, but wouldn't you want to read a play illustrated by jolly looking people and a man wearing reindeer antlers?

Yeah, me too.

(Thanks for the image, Google.)

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LadyChristy

The Merry Wives of Windsor. A Comedy | William Shakespeare

One of many bookish ornaments on our tree - do you have any #bookishornaments on your trees, Littens? 🎄📚

BookishMarginalia No tree, but if we had one, it would be full of bookish ornaments! 8y

9 likes1 comment

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