King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare. The title character descends into madness after disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. The play is based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman Celtic king.

This reissed edition of Longman Annotated Texts King Lear includes comprehensive notes, annotations and an introduction, all designed to be of use to undergraduates and interested readers. King Lear is one of Shakespeare's most widely studied tragedies. However, since the late 1970s textual scholars, critics and editors have argued that there is no single 'King Lear' text. Anyone studying the play needs to be aware of two different texts, one based on the quarto of 1608, The History of King Lear, and a revised version published in the first folio of 1623, The Tragedy of King Lear. This edition offers a fully annotated, modern spelling version of the texts set side by side, identifying and elucidating the major discrepancies between the two. It presents some possible reasons for the differences between the two texts, which themselves shed light on a number of issues relating to literary transmission in the Renaissance and give an insight into the nature of performance and censorship.

The dates of the writing and first performance of King Lear are unknown, although it is known that King James I viewed the play on December 26, 1606. Shakespeare may have been inspired to write King Lear by the uncertainly that accompanied the last years of Queen Elizabeth I’s life, as she left no children or nieces and nephews to inherit the throne. King Lear is the King of Britain. He decides to “retire” as king and divide his land holdings among his three daughters – Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. What they will inherit is dependent on how skillfully the daughters can publically proclaim love for their father. Goneril and Regan, who are married to the Duke of Albany and the Duke of Cornwall respectively, have no problem with this, and speak enthusiastically about their love for their father. Cordelia, the youngest girl, refuses to flatter her father. She is his favorite daughter, and in his disappointment, Lear cuts her off without a penny and banishes her. She marries the King of France who is willing to accept her without an inheritance. Lear’s friend and ally, the Earl of Kent, defends Cordelia and he is sent off in disgrace; he returns to the court in disguise. Lear’s kingdom is now split between his two older daughters. This annotated edition includes a biography and critical essay.

"In this authoritative three-volume annotated edition, A. L. Rowse, the noted Elizabethan scholar, sets forth his extraordinary knowledge of William Shakespeare and his time. All Shakespeare's plays and poems are included. His comedies (Volume I), histories, sonnets and other poems (Volume II), and tragedies and romances (Volume III) are photographically reproduced from the highly praised Globe edition of 1904. Dr. Rowse has written a biography of Shakespeare, introductionsto each volume and each play, as well as supervised the annotations and the selection of the 4,200 illustrations. The introductions to the volumes describe the evolution of Shakespeare's art, his approach to comedy and tragedy, his themes and poetic impulse. The introductions to the plays place each in the perspective of the entire range of his work and his milieu. The annotations elucidate not only Shakespeare's language, but the biographical, historical, topical, literary, and symbolic aspects of the plays and poems themselves. The great merit of the annotations is that they help the reader, the actor, the producer, the student to understand and appreciate better the plays of Shakespeare, and to get new meaning and insight from them. The 4,200 illustrations make this also an incomparable visual edition of Shakespeare. They show actual scenes of the plays in photographs as well as in paintings by Delacroix, Gainsborough, Blake, and others, and pictures of historic figures such as Henry VI, Henry IV, and famous Shakespearean performers from the earliest days to the present. In addition, these volumes include set and costume designs, prints, facsimiles of title pages of first editions, and many other pertinent reproductions." -Publisher.

King Lear descends into madness after foolishly disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. Sound like a good story? It is...if you can understand it. If you have struggled in the past reading Shakespeare, then BookCaps can help you out. This book is a modern translation of King Lear. The original text is also presented in the book, along with a comparable version of both text. We all need refreshers every now and then. Whether you are a student trying to cram for that big final, or someone just trying to understand a book more, BookCaps can help. We are a small, but growing company, and are adding titles every month.

Among the most enduring poetry of all time, William Shakespeare’s 154 sonnets address such eternal themes as love, beauty, honesty, and the passage of time. Written primarily in four-line stanzas and iambic pentameter, Shakespeare’s sonnets are now recognized as marking the beginning of modern love poetry. The sonnets have been translated into all major written languages and are frequently used at romantic celebrations. Known as “The Bard of Avon,” William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare’s works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare’s innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech. HarperPerennial Classics brings great works of literature to life in digital format, upholding the highest standards in ebook production and celebrating reading in all its forms. Look for more titles in the HarperPerennial Classics collection to build your digital library.

Elderly King Lear decides to divide his kingdom between his three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. He promises the largest portion of the kingdom to the daughter who best expresses her affection for him. Goneril and Regan both deliver wildly embellished speeches. Cordelia, Lear's favorite, speaks the simple truth and is banished for it. Impressed by Cordelia's actions, the King of France offers to marry her and wage war against her sisters. Goneril turns against Lear, cutting the number of his followers in half. Lear seeks comfort from Regan, who admonishes him and suggests he apologize to Goneril. Distraught, Lear ventures out onto a storm-swept heath with his Fool and the disguised Earl of Kent, whom Lear had earlier banished.