All’s Well That Ends Well

All’s Well That Ends Well tells the story of Helena, a young woman who loves Bertram, the son of the Countess who raised her. After Helena cures the King of France using her medical skill, the King rewards her by letting her choose a husband—and she chooses Bertram.

Bertram, unhappy with the match, runs away to war and refuses to accept her unless she can do two things he thinks are impossible:

1. give him his own ring, and

2. have his child.

Through clever planning (the “bed trick”), Helena meets both conditions. Bertram finally realises her loyalty and worth, and the two are reunited.

The rest of the text is about the publisher bringing this classic back into print for modern readers.