King Lear

In its timeless exploration of familial and political dissolution and in its relentless questioning of the apparent moral indifference of the universe King Lear is Shakespeare''s darkest tragedy. It is also one of his most timely for many of the issues it raises resonate loudly within our own era. Perhaps because of its contemporary relevance it is one of Shakespeare''s most frequently produced taught and studied works. And the amount of scholarship on King Lear is exceeded only be the complexity which that scholarship reveals. This book is a lucid and thorough guide to the play''s roots and legacy.The volume begins with a discussion of the play''s textual history which is complicated by the different quarto and folio versions. It also addresses the merits of several recent editions. The book then looks at the literary historical and cultural contexts that inform the play. This is followed by an examination of Shakespeare''s dramatic art an analysis of the play''s themes and a summary of the different approaches critics have used to elucidate its meaning. A final chapter explores the play''s rich production history and a selected bibliography concludes the volume. As a guide this reference successfully navigates the tremendous body of available scholarship and is a ready aid for a wide range of readers.