Richard II (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Kingship, Usurpation, and Power in an Elizabethan History PlayBy William Shakespeare
Length17h 16m
About this audiobook
Richard II is Shakespeare's searching drama of kingship, legitimacy, and political imagination, presented here in its unabridged form alongside a classic account of Shakespeare's life. Written largely in richly patterned blank verse, the play is among the most ceremonious and lyrical of the histories, tracing Richard's fall from sacral monarch to dispossessed poet of his own ruin. In the context of the English history plays, it stands as a meditation on authority, rebellion, language, and the fragile theatre of power. William Shakespeare, born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, wrote for a London stage shaped by dynastic anxiety, censorship, and intense fascination with England's past. His dramatic treatment of Richard's deposition reflects both historical chronicle sources and the political sensitivities of Elizabethan rule. The accompanying biography deepens the reader's sense of the playwright's theatrical world, professional ambitions, and enduring capacity to transform history into psychological and verbal drama. This volume is recommended for readers of classic literature, students of Renaissance drama, and anyone interested in the relationship between art and power. It offers both the complete play and biographical context, making it an illuminating entry into Shakespeare's historical imagination.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- A comprehensive Introduction outlines these selected works' unifying features, themes, or stylistic evolutions.
- A Historical Context section situates the works in their broader era—social currents, cultural trends, and key events that underpin their creation.
- A concise Synopsis (Selection) offers an accessible overview of the included texts, helping readers navigate plotlines and main ideas without revealing critical twists.
- A unified Analysis examines recurring motifs and stylistic hallmarks across the collection, tying the stories together while spotlighting the different work's strengths.
- Reflection questions inspire deeper contemplation of the author's overarching message, inviting readers to draw connections among different texts and relate them to modern contexts.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length17 hrs 16 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateFeb 27, 2014
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1Richard II (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare (Annotated)
20VII—THE SONNETS AND THEIR LITERARY HISTORY
2Introduction
21VIII—THE BORROWED CONCEITS OF THE SONNETS
3Historical Context
22IX—THE PATRONAGE OF THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON
4Synopsis (Selection)
23X—THE SUPPOSED STORY OF INTRIGUE IN THE SONNETS
5Richard II (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare
24XI—THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRAMATIC POWER
Show all chaptersShow less
6DRAMATIS PERSONAE
25XII—THE PRACTICAL AFFAIRS OF LIFE
7ACT 1
26XIII—MATURITY OF GENIUS
8ACT 2
27XIV—THE HIGHEST THEMES OF TRAGEDY
9ACT 3
28XV—THE LATEST PLAYS
10ACT 4
29XVI—THE CLOSE OF LIFE
11ACT 5
30XVII—SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS
12The Life of William Shakespeare
31XVIII—AUTOGRAPHS, PORTRAITS, AND MEMORIALS
13PREFACE
32XIX—BIBLIOGRAPHY
14I—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH
33XX—POSTHUMOUS REPUTATION
15II—CHILDHOOD, EDUCATION, AND MARRIAGE
34XXI—GENERAL ESTIMATE
16III—THE FAREWELL TO STRATFORD
35APPENDIX (pt. 1)
17IV—ON THE LONDON STAGE
36APPENDIX (pt. 2)
18V.—EARLY DRAMATIC EFFORTS
37Analysis
19VI—THE FIRST APPEAL TO THE READING PUBLIC
38Reflection
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