This edition of Othello provides:

A clear and authoritative text,edited to the highest standards of scholarship.

Detailed notes and commentary on the same page as the text.

A full,illustrated introduction to the play's historical,cultural and performance contexts.

An in -depth survey of critical approaches to the play.

A full index to the introduction and notes.

A select bibliography of references and further reading.

With a wealth of helpful and incisive commentary,The Arden Shakespeare is the finest edition of Shakespeare you can find.

戴维·贝文顿（David Bevington）（著名莎士比亚专家、美国莎士比亚协会前任会长）

阿登版莎士比亚（今版已经是三次修订）一如既往地是莎士比亚诸多版本中金科玉律式的版本,其编注者均系国际著名莎士比亚专家；其所收原著文本具有准确性和权威性：其有关莎士比亚作品的评介颇为新颖,有令人茅塞顿开之效。（The Arden Shakespeate. now in its third series．continues to be the gold standard of Shakespeare editions. Its editors are Internationally known: the texts are authoritative：the commentary is illuminating and up to date.）

《皆大欢喜》通常与《无事生非》及《第十二夜》并列为莎翁的三大欢庆喜剧（festive comedy）。本剧有若干常见的莎剧主题,例如：由宫廷城都进入原始森林、善恶对比的两兄弟、女扮男装等等。

本剧的独特点之一是亚登森林,它有些类似侠盗罗宾汉的雪梧森林、圣经里的伊甸园,或是文学传统的田野雅卡迪（Acardia）,象征着理想世界的憧憬及向往。女主角罗莎琳是莎剧中最生动迷人的角色之一,而她女扮男装后和奥兰多所发展的情谊,则引发了同性恋议题。

本剧在莎士比亚逝世后一直到1740年才开始有演出记录,之后逐渐成为莎剧的常备剧目。到了20世纪,本剧因为同时呈现纯真与嘲讽、浪漫与写实,而同时吸引了喜好知识与梦想的观众。