King Richard III (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare (Annotated)
Enriched Edition. Political Villainy and Tyranny on the Elizabethan StageBy William Shakespeare
Length18h 24m
About this audiobook
King Richard III presents Shakespeare's most dazzling study of political villainy: a chronicle-history tragedy in which the Duke of Gloucester manipulates kinship, law, religion, and public spectacle to seize the English crown. Written in the energetic idiom of the early histories, the play fuses Senecan rhetoric, Tudor historiography, and theatrical virtuosity, giving Richard a sardonic intimacy with the audience that makes his crimes both horrifying and theatrically irresistible. In this unabridged form, the work's intricate structure of prophecy, curse, irony, and retribution can be fully appreciated. William Shakespeare, actor, shareholder, and dramatist of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, wrote at a moment when the English stage was rapidly transforming public history into popular art. Drawing on sources such as Holinshed and the Tudor myth of providential kingship, he shaped Richard as both historical figure and imaginative emblem of tyranny. The accompanying classic biography, The Life of William Shakespeare, usefully situates the play within the author's professional world and enduring cultural mystery. This volume is recommended for readers seeking both the complete dramatic text and a contextual portrait of its creator. Students, theatre practitioners, and lovers of political drama will find it an essential encounter with Shakespeare's dark brilliance.
This enriched edition has been carefully crafted to add value to your reading experience.
- An Introduction draws the threads together, discussing why these diverse authors and texts belong in one collection.
- Historical Context explores the cultural and intellectual currents that shaped these works, offering insight into the shared (or contrasting) eras that influenced each writer.
- A combined Synopsis (Selection) briefly outlines the key plots or arguments of the included pieces, helping readers grasp the anthology's overall scope without giving away essential twists.
- A collective Analysis highlights common themes, stylistic variations, and significant crossovers in tone and technique, tying together writers from different backgrounds.
- Reflection questions encourage readers to compare the different voices and perspectives within the collection, fostering a richer understanding of the overarching conversation.
Audiobook details
GenreLiterary Classics
Length18 hrs 24 mins
Narrated byListen with 1,000+ voices
FormateBook with Audio
Publish dateFeb 27, 2014
LanguageEnglish
Table of contents
1King Richard III (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare (Annotated)
2Introduction
3Historical Context
4Synopsis (Selection)
5King Richard III (The Unabridged Play) + The Classic Biography: The Life of William Shakespeare
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6Persons Represented
7ACT I
8ACT II
9ACT III
10ACT IV
11ACT V
12The Life of William Shakespeare
13PREFACE
14I—PARENTAGE AND BIRTH
15II—CHILDHOOD, EDUCATION, AND MARRIAGE
16III—THE FAREWELL TO STRATFORD
17IV—ON THE LONDON STAGE
18V.—EARLY DRAMATIC EFFORTS
19VI—THE FIRST APPEAL TO THE READING PUBLIC
20VII—THE SONNETS AND THEIR LITERARY HISTORY
21VIII—THE BORROWED CONCEITS OF THE SONNETS
22IX—THE PATRONAGE OF THE EARL OF SOUTHAMPTON
23X—THE SUPPOSED STORY OF INTRIGUE IN THE SONNETS
24XI—THE DEVELOPMENT OF DRAMATIC POWER
25XII—THE PRACTICAL AFFAIRS OF LIFE
26XIII—MATURITY OF GENIUS
27XIV—THE HIGHEST THEMES OF TRAGEDY
28XV—THE LATEST PLAYS
29XVI—THE CLOSE OF LIFE
30XVII—SURVIVORS AND DESCENDANTS
31XVIII—AUTOGRAPHS, PORTRAITS, AND MEMORIALS
32XIX—BIBLIOGRAPHY
33XX—POSTHUMOUS REPUTATION
34XXI—GENERAL ESTIMATE
35APPENDIX (pt. 1)
36APPENDIX (pt. 2)
37Analysis
38Reflection
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