Much Ado About Nothing presents a battle of the sexes in more ways than one: as both a lightning-fast skirmish of wits between two famously disputatious lovers, and a near-deadly conflict built on conventions of gender and male rivalry. Claire McEachern's new introduction brings this best-seller right up-to-date, analysing recent developments in criticism and the latest productions of this comedy, including film versions by Kenneth Branagh and Joss Whedon.