The authoritative edition of King Lear from The Folger Shakespeare
Library, the trusted and widely used Shakespeare series for students and
general readers.Shakespeare's King Lear challenges us with the
magnitude, intensity, and sheer duration of the pain that it represents.
Its figures harden their hearts, engage in violence, or try to alleviate
the suffering of others. Lear himself rages until his sanity cracks.
What, then, keeps bringing us back to King Lear? For all the force of
its language, King Lear is almost equally powerful when translated,
suggesting that it is the story, in large part, that draws us to the
play. The play tells us about families struggling between greed and
cruelty, on the one hand, and support and consolation, on the other.
Emotions are extreme, magnified to gigantic proportions. We also see old
age portrayed in all its vulnerability, pride, and, perhaps, wisdom--one
reason this most devastating of Shakespeare's tragedies is also perhaps
his most moving. This edition includes: -Freshly edited text based on
the best early printed version of the play -Full explanatory notes
conveniently placed on pages facing the text of the play -Scene-by-scene
plot summaries -A key to the play's famous lines and phrases -An
introduction to reading Shakespeare's language -An essay by a leading
Shakespeare scholar providing a modern perspective on the play -Fresh
images from the Folger Shakespeare Library's vast holdings of rare books
-An annotated guide to further reading Essay by Susan Snyder The Folger
Shakespeare Library in Washington, DC, is home to the world's largest
collection of Shakespeare's printed works, and a magnet for Shakespeare
scholars from around the globe. In addition to exhibitions open to the
public throughout the year, the Folger offers a full calendar of
performances and programs. For more information, visit Folger.edu.
