Much Ado About Nothing (version 2)

  • 1599 first published
  • 🎧 2 h 32 min free audiobook

William Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing (version 2) (1599) is a classic romance novel.

A free LibriVox audiobook (2 h 32 min) is available.

About Much Ado About Nothing (version 2)

Much Ado About Nothing is generally considered one of Shakespeare’s best comedies, because it combines elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honor, shame, and court politics. Much Ado About Nothing chronicles two pairs of lovers: Benedick and Beatrice (the main couple), and Claudio and Hero (the secondary couple). Benedick and Beatrice are engaged in a very "merry war"; they are both very witty and proclaim their disdain of love. In contrast, Claudio and Hero are sweet young people who are rendered practically speechless by their love for one another. Although the young lovers Hero and Claudio provide the main impetus for the plot, the courtship between the wittier, wiser lovers Benedick and Beatrice is what makes Much Ado About Nothing so memorable. Benedick and Beatrice argue with delightful wit, and Shakespeare develops their journey from antagonism to sincere love and affection with a rich sense of humor and compassion. (Summary by Wikipedia) Cast Leonato: Bob Neufeld Messenger: Ernst Pattynama Beatrice/Boy/Second Watch: Elizabeth Klett Hero: Amanda Friday Don Pedro: Bruce Pirie Benedick: mb Don John: Eden Rea-Hedrick Claudio: Beth Thomas Antonio: Larry Wilson Conrade: Brett Downey Borachio: Chris Cartwright Balthazar: James Silverstein Margaret: Arielle Lipshaw Ursula: Sarah Parshall Dogberry: Alan Mapstone Verges: Charlotte Duckett First Watchman: rookieblue Friar Francis: bala Sexton/Lord: Todd Narrator: Libby Gohn Audio edited by mb and gloriana
Description from LibriVox

Free audiobook

Much Ado About Nothing (version 2) — LibriVox recording, 2 h 32 min in 27 sections.

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

Themes, setting & tropes

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Quick answers

Who wrote Much Ado About Nothing (version 2)?

Much Ado About Nothing (version 2) was written by William Shakespeare and first published in 1599.

What genre is Much Ado About Nothing (version 2)?

It is usually shelved as Classic Love Stories.

Is there a free audiobook of Much Ado About Nothing (version 2)?

Yes — LibriVox volunteers recorded it; the recording runs 2 h 32 min.

What books are similar to Much Ado About Nothing (version 2)?

Readers who like it often enjoy Middlemarch, The Blue Castle: a novel and Lorna Doone.

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