Product Description

'By far the best edition of King Lear - in respect of both textual and other matters - that we now have.'John Lyon, English Language Notes'This volume is a treasure-trove of precise information and stimulating comments on practically every aspect of the Lear-universe. I know of no other edition which I would recommend with such confidence: to students, professional colleagues and also the 'educated public'.'Dieter Mehl, Shakespeare Jahrbuch, vol 134

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4980 in Books
• Published on: 1997-05-09
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 456 pages

Customer Reviews

King Lear Arden Shakespeare
'King Lear' is probably one of my favourite Shakespeare plays and is currently the one most studied at A-Levels. It is famed for it's depiction of the infirmity of old age and complex family politics. In some respects I think it'd be rather presumptuous of me to attempt to review Shakespeare. Someone so well known and influential wouldn't benefit from my opinions on their work, plus there are more scholarly and concise reviews out there. But I can comment on these Arden versions. Of all the Shakespeare I've read I've always found the Arden copies to be well laid out and to have excellent commentary and notes on the text. They really add to your understanding of Shakespeares outstanding plays and introduce you to the depth in his work. They have superb paper quality and are bound well, withstanding repeated readings and intensive study. For your collection of Shakespeare you can't do much better than Arden publications, some are quite hard to get hold of but it's worth the effort.

The Arden Lear (Good or bad?)
No one is disputing that King Lear is a great play. It is. The story of the king attempting to hand over his kingdom to his children, and having everything go horribly wrong, is epic and the work of a genius.

Now, however, when Victorian jokes are alien to our world, what we need to review is not the play itself (which has stood the test of time, for greatness), but the particular edition of the play - in this case by Arden Shakespeare.

Unfortunately, I don't think this version is particularly great. Many of the annotations are incomplete, while others are just wrong (to the reasoned reader of the play). This, in my opinion either makes of breaks an annotated book of a Shakespearean work.

The Book is full of details concerning the perfoming of Lear in the theatre and the history of Lear. More than half the book is devoted to the historical aspect of the play, in fact. If you want this much biographical detail, as well as the play itself, then the Arden Shakespeare may be the book for you. Otherwise, look for a lighter, better annoteated edition of Lear.

Lear is a superb play if understood and I'm not sure if this Arden book leads to complete understanding. Not recommended for someone interested in Shakespeare for the first time.

Rich, Powerful and Tragic
The tale of Lear's betrayal by his family and subsequent tragic descent into madness is powerfully gripping. Shakespeare keeps the plot simple, but ensures that the undertones are remarkably complex. In Lear's most poignant speech, when he begins the journey to insanity, he demands that we "allow not nature more than nature needs" and forewarns that his heart will "break into a hundred thousand flaws". These predictions unfold in vivid and dramatic style throughout a play laced with reference to nature's omnipotence.