As You Like It

As You Like It is a classic pastoral romance by William Shakespeare, presented here as Volume 1 of the Arden Shakespeare Fourth Series. This drama follows the journey of exiled brothers and disguised lovers within the Forest of Arden. The plot centers on Rosalind, whose performance of gender as Ganymede drives the narrative toward a joyous conclusion. Alongside characters like the cynical Jaques and the witty Touchstone, the play examines the complex intersections of love, deception, and social play.

This edition combines the original play with extensive literary criticism and scholarly research. The Arden Shakespeare Fourth Series provides a critical introduction to the textual and performance history of the work, alongside detailed notes on Elizabethan culture. Designed for students and researchers, this volume offers a comprehensive look at gender and sexuality through a modern lens, making it a definitive resource for studying Shakespeare.