This seventeenth-century allegorical masterpiece by one of Spain"s greatest dramatists incorporates the author"s superb theatrical instincts, philosophical flair, and extraordinary imagination to probe the mysteries of human destiny. Exploring the conflict between free will and predestination, Calderon"s most famous play tells of Segismundo, a Polish prince, imprisoned at birth by his father, the King, to thwart the predictions of astrologers. The dual-language edition features an excellent new literal translation on pages facing the original Spanish text and also includes the translator"s informative introduction and notes.