Dvě svatební komedie – Shakespeare William, Theobald Lewis (2026)

This book contains new Czech translations of two wedding comedies, a popular genre of English Renaissance theatre. Much Ado About Nothing, written around 1598–1599, is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, thanks to its gripping story of love, betrayal and lies, as well as its appealing characters, who must learn on their journey towards love that appearances can be deceptive and that boastful words may conceal fragile feelings. Anna Hrdinová translates the play under a new Czech title for the first time. Double Falsehood, written in 1727 by Shakespeare scholar and playwright Lewis Theobald, is probably an adaptation of the lost tragicomedy Cardenio, written by William Shakespeare with his younger colleague and successor John Fletcher towards the end of Shakespeare’s career. In Theobald’s drama, love and friendship also undergo severe trials, and its heroes and heroines must demonstrate resilience and moral strength before reaching a happy resolution. This edition presents Double Falsehood to Czech readers in Filip Krajník’s translation for the first time. Both plays include contextual studies and notes to help readers understand the works and place them within their historical, literary and cultural contexts. In the case of Much Ado About Nothing, special attention is given to its performance history in the Czech lands and to the history of its translations into Czech. This student edition is intended for a broad readership, secondary-school and university students, and lovers of literature, theatre and culture in general. The contents are in Czech.