Richard III

Richard III Synopsis

A history play whose villainous usurper is one of William Shakespeare's most memorably cunning and sinister characters,Richard IIIis edited by E.A.J. Honigmann with an introduction by Michael Taylor in Penguin Shakespeare.

'Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York'

Richard of York, the bitter, deformed brother of King Edward IV, is secretly plotting to seize the throne of England. Charming and duplicitous, powerfully eloquent and viciously cruel, he is prepared to go to any lengths to achieve his goal. In his skilful manipulation of events and people - coercing the king into eliminating the Duke of Clarence, next in line to the throne; imprisoning the King's sons, princes Edward and Richard, in the Tower of London; and purging court of any who might oppose his rule - Richard is a chilling incarnation of the lure of evil and the temptation of power.

This book contains a general introduction to Shakespeare's life and Elizabethan theatre, a separate introduction toRichard III, a chronology, suggestions for further reading, an essay discussing performance options on both stage and screen, and a commentary.

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was born to John Shakespeare and Mary Arden some time in late April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon. He wrote about 38 plays (the precise number is uncertain), many of which are regarded as the most exceptional works of drama ever produced, includingRomeo and Juliet(1595),HenryV (1599),Hamlet(1601),Othello(1604),King Lear(1606) andMacbeth(1606), as well as a collection of 154 sonnets, which number among the most profound and influential love-poetry in English.

If you enjoyedRichard III, you might likeMacbeth, also available in Penguin Shakespeare.

'Exciting, funny, sexy and violent'
Sir Ian McKellen