Othello by William Shakespeare

Some stories never let go of us. Othello is one of them.

Here, Shakespeare spins jealousy, love, and betrayal into one of the most heartbreaking tragedies ever written. It begins with an elopement, a marriage between the noble Moor Othello and the devoted Venetian lady Desdemona, a couple whose love seems strong enough to overcome any difference of race, age, or background. And it would have been. If not for Iago.

What follows is a slow, sickening unraveling. Iago’s whispered lies, his false hints of Desdemona’s betrayal, pull Othello deeper into a rage that ends in ruin. It’s the kind of play that stays with you long after you’ve closed the cover.

This is the authoritative edition from The Folger Shakespeare Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and general readers alike. It’s a wonderful companion whether you’re meeting Othello for the first time or returning to him after many years.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Freshly edited text based on the best early printed version of the play
• Full explanatory notes placed conveniently on facing pages
• Scene-by-scene plot summaries to keep you grounded
• A key to the play’s most famous lines and phrases
• A helpful introduction to reading Shakespeare’s language
• A modern perspective essay by scholar Susan Snyder
• Rare images from the Folger’s remarkable collection
• An annotated guide to further reading

A pocket-sized paperback that’s easy to slip into a bag and carry down the Marginal Way. Come linger a while and let this timeless tragedy pull you in.

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