Measure for Measure vs The Merry Wives of Windsor: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: Promptbooks, Stage history, English drama, Drama, Fiction
Measure for Measure
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In the Duke's absence, a cruel regent condemns a noble to death under an old law against fornication. When his sister pleads for his life, the regent basely bargains for her virginity, but the Duke restores justice.
The Merry Wives of Windsor
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When Falstaff meets Mistresses Page and Ford, two married women said to control their own financial affairs, he writes identical love letters to each of them, never imagining that they will compare notes. When they do,…
Side by side
The verdict
- Ratings are close across the board — any is a safe pick by score.
- Measure for Measure has the widest readership — 32174 ratings behind its score.
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Scores by source
| Measure for Measure | The Merry Wives of Windsor | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | 3.7 (32174) | 3.5 (15008) |
| Hardcover | 3.5 (58) | 3.1 (27) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (23) | 4.0 (18) |
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Reception
| Measure for Measure | The Merry Wives of Windsor | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 32174 | 15008 |
| Editions | 380 | 290 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | 19577 | 13896 |
| Written reviews | 2045 | 1178 |
| Wikipedia attention | 7583 | 10541 |
| Pages | — | 158 |
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Questions readers ask
Which is rated higher: Measure for Measure or The Merry Wives of Windsor?
Measure for Measure has the higher combined reader rating across sources (Measure for Measure 3.7/5, The Merry Wives of Windsor 3.6/5).
Which is harder to read: Measure for Measure or The Merry Wives of Windsor?
Estimated difficulty, based on era, reader shelves and length — Measure for Measure: Demanding; The Merry Wives of Windsor: Demanding.