All's Well that Ends Well
ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL: A young woman, Helena, is in love with a man named Bertram, but he is already engaged to marry another woman. Helena's father, a poor lawyer, plots to break the engagement and secure his daughter's happiness by disguising himself as a wealthy lord and courting Bertram's bride-to-be. The plan succeeds, but at a cost: Helena is shunned by society for her deception, and she and Bertram must navigate their complicated feelings for each other in the aftermath.
By Charles Lamb · First published 1802 · Genre: Drama, Comedy, Romantic · 5,448 words
First lines
Bertram, count of Rousillon, had newly come to his title and estate, by the death of his father. The king of France loved the father of Bertram, and when he heard of his death, he sent for his son to come immediately to his royal court in Paris, intending, for the friendship he bore the late count, to grace young Bertram with his especial favour and protection.
What this Textopian page supports
All's Well that Ends Well is listed on Textopian as a novel by Charles Lamb, dated 1802 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Charles Lamb
- Date: 1802 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Drama, Comedy, Romantic, Classic Literature
- Length: 5,448 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for All's Well that Ends Well by Charles Lamb
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Similar titles
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- Cymbeline by Charles Lamb
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Genres
- Drama — This book is based on the play of the same name by William Shakespeare, which is typically classified as a drama.
- Comedy — The original play is one of Shakespeare's comedies, and Lamb carries much of this humor over into his retelling.
- Romantic — The central plot of this book revolves around a romantic relationship, and its trials and tribulations.
- Classic Literature — As a retelling of a Shakespearean play, this book fits squarely in the realm of classic literature.
Tags
comedy · drama · romance · Shakespearean · love · deception · identity · social class · feminism · resolution · misunderstanding · courtship