Carlo Goldoni, one of Italy's most beloved playwrights and librettists, is celebrated for his witty and honest portrayals of the emerging middle class in his works. This collection includes four of his most famous comedies: 'A Curious Mishap', 'The Beneficent Bear', 'The Fan', and 'The Spendthrift Miser'. Goldoni's plays, written in both French and Italian, make rich use of the Venetian language, regional vernacular, and colloquialisms, offering his contemporaries a vivid reflection of themselves.