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Cover of The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor

by William Shakespeare

First published
1602
Reading level
Easy
Price
Free
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About the book

"The Merry Wives of Windsor" by William Shakespeare is a comedy first published in 1602. The corpulent knight Sir John Falstaff arrives in Windsor penniless and schemes to seduce two wealthy married women for their money. But the clever wives discover his identical love letters and plot elaborate revenge, repeatedly humiliating the would-be seducer. Meanwhile, three suitors compete for the hand of Anne Page, leading to additional schemes and disguises in this Elizabethan tale of tricks and comeuppance.

  • Comedy plays
  • Falstaff, John, Sir (Fictitious character)
  • Married women
  • Windsor (Windsor and Maidenhead, England)

Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #23044. The Merry Wives of Windsor on Wikipedia.

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