Cymbeline vs The Taming of the Shrew: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: English drama, Married people, Drama, History, Fiction
Cymbeline
“In the scene which dramatizes the central crisis of her fortunes, the heroine of Cymbeline apparently dies, and her brothers speak over her body perhaps the most exquisite lyric in the language, 'Fear no more the heat o'th' sun', whose serene beauty has brought consolation to many a real-life funeral.”
More
Cymbeline, King of Britain is one of the best-known works of William Shakespeare. It is a romantic play interwoven with war and tragedy. It revolves around Cymbeline and his daughter, Imogen. Imogen does not abide by…
The Taming of the Shrew
“CHRISTOPHER SLY for a range of sly's manifestations, see Introduction pp. 51-64.”
More
This play within a play is a delightful farce about a fortune hunter who marries and tames" the town shrew. The comedy, often produced today because of its accessibility, is one of the plays Shakespeare intended for the…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- The Taming of the Shrew has the widest readership — 183652 ratings behind its score.
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission on purchases.
How to choose
Scores by source
| Cymbeline | The Taming of the Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.6 (12298) | 3.7 (183652) |
| Hardcover | 3.6 (19) | 3.6 (212) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (9) | 4.0 (47) |
| LiveLib | — | 4.2 (3552) |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Reception
| Cymbeline | The Taming of the Shrew | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 12298 | 183652 |
| Editions | 844 | 1126 |
| Citations | 4 | — |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 9853 | 76789 |
| Reading it now | 4 | 3123 |
| Written reviews | 1065 | 6441 |
| Wikipedia attention | 6844 | 29172 |
| Pages | 178 | 120 |
| Check price → | Check price → |
Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Cymbeline or The Taming of the Shrew?
The Taming of the Shrew has the higher combined reader rating across sources (The Taming of the Shrew 3.7/5, Cymbeline 3.6/5).
Which is shorter to read: Cymbeline or The Taming of the Shrew?
The Taming of the Shrew is the quickest read. Estimated at 225 words per minute: The Taming of the Shrew (120 pages, ≈ 2 h 13 m); Cymbeline (178 pages, ≈ 3 h 18 m).
Which is harder to read: Cymbeline or The Taming of the Shrew?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Cymbeline: Demanding; The Taming of the Shrew: Demanding.
Have both books been made into films?
Cymbeline: 1 film adaptation; The Taming of the Shrew: 5 film adaptations.