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Ratings: ★★★★☆ (4.2/5)
Genre: Drama / Comedy / Shakespearean Comedy / Problem Play

Book Review:
The Taming of the Shrew is one of Shakespeare’s most famous and hotly debated comedies. The headstrong Katherine (“Kate”) is known for her sharp tongue and violent temper. When the eccentric Petruchio arrives in Padua looking for a wealthy wife, he decides to “tame” Kate through a series of outrageous actions — starving her, depriving her of sleep, and contradicting everything she says. The play’s final scene, in which Kate delivers a long speech on a wife’s duty to obey her husband, has been interpreted as everything from sincere submission to ironic performance. Franco Zeffirelli’s film and Cole Porter’s musical Kiss Me, Kate are famous adaptations. This Wordsworth Classics edition, edited by Cedric Watts, includes an introduction and notes. Essential reading for students of Shakespeare and gender studies.