Tempest by William Shakespeare

There’s something magical about a storm rolling in off the water. And no one conjures a tempest quite like Shakespeare.

Here, on a remote and enchanted island, we meet Prospero, the exiled Duke of Milan turned reluctant sorcerer. Betrayed by his own brother, he’s spent his years in exile with his daughter Miranda, the airy spirit Ariel, and the earthbound creature Caliban. When fate (and a little magic) brings his enemies within reach, Prospero calls up a storm that sets the whole tale in motion.

What makes The Tempest linger is how gloriously complicated everyone is. Prospero is heroic and vengeful. Caliban is monstrous and sympathetic. Nobody fits neatly into a box. It’s a story about power, forgiveness, colonialism, and the ache of letting go, all wrapped in some of the most beautiful language ever written.

This is the authoritative Folger Shakespeare Library edition, the series trusted by students, teachers, and curious readers everywhere. Inside you’ll find:

• A freshly edited text based on the best early printed version
• Helpful explanatory notes right across from the play itself
• Scene-by-scene plot summaries
• A guide to Shakespeare’s famous lines and language
• An illuminating essay by scholar Barbara A. Mowat
• Rare images from the Folger’s remarkable collection

Whether you’re revisiting an old favorite or reading it for the very first time, this edition makes Shakespeare feel welcoming rather than daunting.

So pour yourself a warm cup of tea, settle in as the sea air drifts through, and let the storm carry you away. We think you’ll want to linger over every page.

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