King Lear

William Shakespeare is also the author of the tragedy King Lear. It is inspired by the legendary Leir of Britain. So what is the plot? In anticipation of his old age, King Lear shares his authority and territory with his two daughters. He becomes poor, deranged, and grows into the focal point of political maneuverings.

On Saint Stephen's Day in 1606, the first known staging of King Lear took place. The 1608 quarto (Q1), the 1620 quarto (Q2, unauthorized and based on Q1), and the 1624 First Folio are the three surviving editions from which many contemporary editors extract their texts.

The quarto editions are notably different from the folio edition. Indeed, the play was regularly rewritten during the English Revolution to appease audiences who despised its originally gloomy and sad tone. Still, since the nineteenth century, the original play has been acknowledged as one of Shakespeare's greatest works. The lead part and supporting roles have both been pursued by talented performers, and the piece has been reworked several times to suit the taste of audiences in each era.

How about the inspiration for this play? Shakespeare's play is inspired by numerous tales of the legendary Brythonic character Leir of England, whose name has been connected by some scholars to the Brythonic deity Lir, despite the fact that the names had no etymological connection.

Year of Release: 1605

Goodreads Score: 3.91/5