Richard II

Description

Deftly combining history and tragedy, Shakespeare's tale of bad government and usurpation had great political immediacy for its first audiences. This version of the text is based on the early quartos and first Folio of 1623. It is complemented by an introduction that places the play in its own time, thorough textual notes, and full commentary. Cover Title Page Copyright CONTENTS List of Illustrations Introduction The Play in Its Time The Earl and the Queen A Question of Censorship Performing Politics The Character of History Inventing Genre Dramatizing the Histories of Richard II Language Character King Richard Henry Bolingbroke Gaunt and York, Northumberland and Mowbray, Aumerle and Friends The Play on the Stage Early Fortunes and Misfortunes Victorian Extravagance Richard the Poet Richard and Bolingbroke in the Balance Ritualism Politics, Character, and Sequence in Modern Performance Richard on the BBC Textual Analysis Editorial Procedures Abbreviations and References RICHARD II Persons in the Play Act I 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Act II 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Act III 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Act IV 4.1 Act V 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 5.6 Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y