King Richard II

By William Shakespeare, William Griggs, William Aldis Wright, et al.

Book Overview

"King Richard II" is a seminal history play by William Shakespeare that explores the tumultuous reign and eventual downfall of one of England's most complex monarchs. As the first installment in the celebrated Henriad tetralogy, the drama delves into the themes of political legitimacy, the divine right of kings, and the tragic consequences of a ruler's perceived incompetence.

The narrative follows the volatile King Richard II as his authority is challenged by his ambitious cousin, Henry Bolingbroke. Following a series of political missteps and the unjust seizure of Bolingbroke's inheritance, the king finds himself increasingly isolated from his court and his people. Shakespeare masterfully portrays the transition of power, contrasting Richard's poetic but ineffective leadership with Bolingbroke's pragmatic and decisive rise to the throne. Written entirely in verse, the play is renowned for its lyrical beauty and philosophical soliloquies, particularly Richard's poignant reflections on the nature of mortality and the burden of the crown.

A cornerstone of English literature, "King Richard II" remains a powerful exploration of the human cost of political ambition and the fragile nature of sovereignty. It offers readers and audiences alike a timeless look at the complexities of leadership and the inevitable shifts of history.

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• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1025512537
• ISBN13: 9781025512532
• Release Date: February 2026
• Publisher: Tradd Street Press
• Length: 180 Pages
• Weight: 0.57 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 6.1" x 9.2"

Customer Reviews

KING RICHARD II ARDEN SHAKESPEARE

THIS EDITION IS BEAUTIFULLY ORGANIZED... THE FOOTNOTES ARE THOROUGH AND ENGAGING... THE CHARACTERS IN THE PLAY ARE FULLY EXPLAINED... THIS WAS FOR ME A BEAUTIFUL PATHWAY TO A FABULOUS PLAY

Good for a reading group

I ordered a number of copies of this book -- the New Folger Library edition of Richard II -- for use by members of a Shakespeare reaeding group in Tbilisi, Georgia (that's the country, not the state), most of whose members are not native speakers of English. For this purpose the Foger edition, with notes on the page facing each page of text, was very useful -- more useful, I think, than the Arden edition, whose critical apparatus is very copious but often gets in the way. And in a few cases I found the Folger's notes more accurate and informative. Harry Berger's concluding essay, however, is not so good. It argues a thesis that I find somewhat implausible and one-sided in its reading of the play, so especially for the new student it is not very useful. But coming at the end of the text it is easy to ignore.

Penguin audiotape is excellent

The Penguin production of Richard II is full length and well done. The other version(s) are abridged and not so good. I find it increases understanding and satisfaction of Shakespeare to listen to the tapes while reading.

Well balanced tale

Yes, Mr or Ms Reader, this is a hidden gem of Shakespeare's. Perhaps it is a bit too weighed down with history to ever attract Mr Di Caprio, but the story is intriguing and one's opinion of Richard changes scene by scene. Wonderful wordplay and nobility in abundance make this one to turn too immediately should you wish to delve beyond the traditional canon of the Bard's works.