King Lear

The Signet Classics edition of one of William Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.

Full of cruelty and betrayal, King Lear is the timeless and timely story of a kingdom held in the thrall of an aging ruler's descent into madness. Desperate for praise, he banishes those who would guide him with honesty and surrounds himself with sycophants-an action which leads to his ultimately tragic downfall...

This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:

• An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater

• A special introduction to the play by the editor, Russell Fraser

• Selections from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, Sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia, and The True Chronicle History of King Lear, the sources from which Shakespeare derived King Lear

• Dramatic criticism from Samuel Johnson, A. C. Bradley, John Russell Brown, and others

• A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions

• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text

• And more...