Much Ado About Nothing, one of Shakespeare's best comedies combining elements of robust hilarity with more serious meditations on honour, shame, and court politics. The story follows two pairs of lovers with different takes on romance. William Shakespeare, an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.