The Venetian Twins / Mirandolina: Two Plays

by Carlo Goldoni, Ranjit Bolt (Translation)

Carlo Goldoni, the Venetian dramatist and librettist, lent new direction and subtlety to the stock characteristics of the "commedia dell'arte" tradition. "The Venetian Twins" is a classic tale of mistaken identity and the ensuing confusion. "Mirandolina" is one of Goldoni's best known works. (Absolute Classics)

Genres: Plays

188 pages, Paperback

First published November 22, 1993

About the author

Carlo Osvaldo Goldoni was an Italian playwright and librettist from the Republic of Venice. His works include some of Italy's most famous and best-loved plays. Audiences have admired the plays of Goldoni for their ingenious mix of wit and honesty. His plays offered his contemporaries images of themselves, often dramatizing the lives, values, and conflicts of the emerging middle classes. Though he wrote in French and Italian, his plays make rich use of the Venetian language, regional vernacular, and colloquialisms. Goldoni also wrote under the pen name and title "Polisseno Fegeio, Pastor Arcade," which he claimed in his memoirs the "Arcadians of Rome" bestowed on him.

Reviews

[Steflen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read Mirandolina for my Italian literature class and I was able to finish the play in one sitting. I thoroughly enjoyed the play and the characters. It was extremely enjoyable and it came together very well.

[miuccia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5/5

I'll always love the Venetian Twins but Mirandolina is... an icon...

But to be very fair and honest it's great to see that even though this is roughly 1750, Goldoni managed to write two plays that could have been written in 2019 - there is veeeery little social prejudice of the time it was written in. I love this.

[Addicted2booksStefania · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honestly this was one of the few mandatory course books I’ve had to read which I enjoyed without the lecture! I can’t wait to discuss these plays, they’re so funny and witty, I found myself highlighting so much in the book! Highly recommend!