First published 1734
In the sun-dappled Italian town of Messina, a band of soldiers arrives, disrupting the carefree lives of young lovers Hero and Claudio. When Hero is falsely accused of infidelity, her cousin Beatrice and the arrogant Benedick are enlisted to clear her name. But the two have long sworn off marriage, engaging in a "merry war" of wits. As their friends conspire to make the headstrong pair fall for each other, the drama builds to a climactic masquerade ball where identities are revealed, truths uncovered, and unlikely love ignited.
Genres: drama, classic-literature, romance, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, whimsical
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers, found-family
Setting: Italy, Messina, Messina (Italy)
196 pages · Paperback · Cambridge University Press