Shakespeare, Elizabeth and Ivan

Shakespeare's comedy Love's Labour's Lost has perplexed scholars and theatergoers for over 400 years due to its linguistic complexity, obscure topical allusions and decidedly non-comedic ending. According to traditional interpretations, it is Shakespeare's "French" play, based on events and characters from the French Wars of Religion. This work argues that the play's French surface conceals a Russian core. It outlines an interpretation of Love's Labour's Lost rooted in diplomatic and trade relat