As You Like It

“All the world's a stage.” And on this stage, Shakespeare wrote his most joyful comedy—a play about love, exile, and the freedom of the forest.

As You Like It is Shakespeare's love letter to the countryside, to the power of disguise, and to the simple, astonishing fact that people can change.

Rosalind, the daughter of a banished duke, falls in love with the handsome Orlando at a wrestling match. Then she is banished from court by her usurping uncle. Disguised as a young man named Ganymede, she flees with her cousin Celia to the Forest of Arden—where her father and his followers are living a simple, pastoral life. Orlando, driven into the forest by his own cruel brother, wanders the woods writing bad love poems. Rosalind, still disguised as Ganymede, offers to "cure" Orlando of his lovesickness by pretending to be Rosalind. What follows is a joyful tangle of mistaken identities, cross-dressing, and some of the wisest words ever spoken about the foolishness of love.

This is Shakespeare at his most warm and wise: a play about the difference between court and country, between who we pretend to be and who we really are. As You Like It contains more songs than any other Shakespeare play, and one of the most famous speeches in English literature.

• One of Shakespeare's most beloved comedies, written around 1599–1600

• Features the famous “Seven Ages of Man” speech: “All the world's a stage, / And all the men and women merely players”

• A celebration of the natural world, gender fluidity, and the transformative power of love

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.

• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.

• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears—or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that the best version of yourself is sometimes the one you pretend to be.

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he moved to London and became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). As You Like It was written around 1599–1600, during the same period as Hamlet and Twelfth Night. The play is based on Thomas Lodge's 1590 pastoral romance Rosalynde. It was first performed at the Globe Theatre and later at court. The play has been adapted into numerous films, including a 1936 adaptation starring Laurence Olivier and a 2006 modern-dress adaptation set in a Japanese-inspired forest. The famous "Seven Ages of Man" speech has become a cultural touchstone, quoted and parodied countless times. Shakespeare's other major works include Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, and The Tempest. He died in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.