In his most poignant and hilarious chapter, Mr Pemble shows how Desdemona's handkerchief triggered a battle for lexical political correctness.

ECONOMIST: Shakespeare

Against these two, Zoe Waites's Desdemona holds her own with a strong and moving performance that makes the closing scenes of the play almost unbearable.

ECONOMIST: Theatre at Stratford

It took a century for Desdemona's handkerchief to be called by its proper name, and as long again before any accurate rendering could be given of its decoration.

ECONOMIST: Shakespeare

Billy Crudup, with a slender waist, long lashes, and a bit of a flirtatious pucker, is Ned Kynaston, the reigning Desdemona, Ophelia, and Juliet of the early Restoration period.

NEWYORKER: Stage Beauty