High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! The Winter`s Tale is a play by William Shakespeare, originally published in the First Folio of 1623. Although it was grouped among the comedies, some modern editors have relabelled the play as one of Shakespeare`s late romances. Some critics, among them W. W. Lawrence, consider it to be one of Shakespeare`s "problem plays", because the first three acts are filled with intense psychological drama, while the last two acts are comedic and supply a happy ending.