The ill-fated reign of King Richard II and his eventual overthrow take center stage in one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays.This title in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes:
• An overview of William Shakespeare’s life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, Kenneth Muir
• A note on the source from which Shakespeare derived
Richard II—a generous selection of Raphael Holinshed’s
The Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland• Dramatic criticism from Walter Pater, Richard D. Altick, Derek Traversi, and others
• A stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of
Richard II• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable format
• Recommended readings
Considered one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays, The Tragedy of King Richard II concerns the ill-fated reign of a king whose eventual overthrow marks the beginning of Shakespeare's history cycle, including Henry IV, Part I, Henry IV Part II; and Henry V.
This edition features an overview of Shakespeare's works by Sylvan Barnet, former Chairman of the English Department at Tufts University, as well as a comprehensive stage and screen history, dramatic criticism from the past and present, and sources from which Shakespeare derived this great work.
