The Winter's Tale is a play written by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in 1610 or 1611. It is classified as one of Shakespeare's late romances, and is often considered to be one of his most complex and enigmatic works. The play tells the story of King Leontes of Sicilia, who becomes consumed by jealousy and suspicion when he believes that his wife, Queen Hermione, has been unfaithful with his best friend, King Polixenes of Bohemia. Leontes orders Hermione to be imprisoned and their newborn daughter to be abandoned in the wilderness. The play then shifts to a different setting and time period, where the abandoned daughter, Perdita, has been raised by a shepherd and his son. Perdita falls in love with Polixenes' son, Florizel, and their romance becomes entangled with the ongoing conflict between their fathers. The Winter's Tale is known for its blend of tragedy and comedy, with the first half of the play being dark and intense, while the second half is more lighthearted and festive. It also features some of Shakespeare's most memorable characters, including the wise and virtuous Paulina, the clownish Autolycus, and the loyal and steadfast Camillo. Overall, The Winter's Tale is a complex and compelling work that explores themes of jealousy, forgiveness, and redemption. It is widely regarded as one of Shakespeare's greatest plays and continues to be performed and studied today.Paul. The Keeper of the prison, call to him: Let him haue knowledge who I am. Good Lady, No Court in Europe is too good for thee, What dost thou then in prison? Now good Sir, You know me, do you not?This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.