Cover of A Midsummer Night's Dream
Historical FantasyMyth & Legend FictionFae & Fairy Fiction

A Midsummer Night's Dream

by

  • 1600 first published
  • 124 pages
  • ★ 3.9 (108 ratings)
  • 1,505 editions
  • 🎧 2 h 16 min free audiobook
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Published in 1600, A Midsummer Night's Dream is a historical fantasy and mythic fiction play by William Shakespeare. The story is set in Athens, Greece and Atenas, Grecia, in 16th cent. It features William Shakespeare (1564-1616), August Wilhelm von Schlegel (1767-1845) and Frederick Chesney Horwood. Readers will find themes of Drama, courtship, plays and stage history.

Open Library readers give it an average of 3.9 out of 5 from 108 ratings, and 775 more have it on their want-to-read list. It has been published in 1,505 editions across 27 languages. On Project Gutenberg it was downloaded 16,224 times in the last 30 days.

At about 124 pages, most readers finish it in 2–3 hours. It is in the public domain, so you can read it free on Project Gutenberg or listen to the 2 h 16 min LibriVox audiobook.

About A Midsummer Night's Dream

One night two young couples run into an enchanted forest in an attempt to escape their problems. But these four humans do not realize that the forest is filled with fairies and hobgoblins who love making mischief. When Oberon, the Fairy King, and his loyal hobgoblin servant, Puck, intervene in human affairs, the fate of these young couples is magically and hilariously transformed. Like a classic fairy tale, this retelling of William Shakespeare's most beloved comedy is perfect for older readers who will find much to treasure and for younger readers who will love hearing the story read aloud.
Description from Open Library

Free audiobook

A Midsummer Night's Dream — LibriVox recording, 2 h 16 min in 6 sections.

Public-domain recording by volunteer readers. Listen online, download MP3s or stream from the Internet Archive.

Opening line

“The tiring house facade in an Elizabethan public playhouse would have provided a background ornate, formal and symmetrical enough to suggest a ducal palace to any contemporary spectator concerned about location, as would the hall screen in one of the great houses postulated as the play's original venue by supporters of the theory that it was first staged as part of a private marriage ceremony.”

Themes, setting & tropes

Genres

Tropes

Setting

Era

Characters

  • William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
  • August Wilhelm von Schlegel (1767-1845)
  • Frederick Chesney Horwood
  • Harald Metzkes
  • Hippolyta (Greek mythological character)
  • Theseus King of Athens
  • William Shakespeare
  • Oberon
  • Titania
  • Hermia

Subjects

  • Drama
  • Courtship
  • Plays
  • Hippolyta, Greek mythology
  • Theseus, Greek mythology
  • Juvenile drama
  • Children's plays, English
  • Stage history
  • Nonfiction
  • Description and travel
  • Sources
  • Critique et interprétation
  • Classic Literature
  • English Young adult drama
  • Amateur theater
  • English drama

Publisher

Quick answers

Who wrote A Midsummer Night's Dream?

A Midsummer Night's Dream was written by William Shakespeare and first published in 1600.

What genre is A Midsummer Night's Dream?

It is usually shelved as Historical Fantasy, Myth & Legend Fiction, Fae & Fairy Fiction and Classic Fantasy.

How long is A Midsummer Night's Dream?

The median edition has 124 pages, about 2–3 hours of reading at 250 words per minute.

Is A Midsummer Night's Dream free to read?

Yes. It is in the public domain in the United States and can be read free on Project Gutenberg in EPUB, Kindle and HTML formats.

Is there a free audiobook of A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Yes — LibriVox volunteers recorded it; the recording runs 2 h 16 min.

What books are similar to A Midsummer Night's Dream?

Readers who like it often enjoy The king of the Golden River; or, The black brothers, Sylvie and Bruno Concluded and Burned.

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