King Lear
讀書樂編號：5281
推介人： 鄭廷鍵校友
King Lear(李爾王) is generally regarded as one of William Shakespeare's greatest tragedies. It is believed to have been written in 1605 and is based on the legend of King Leir, a king of pre-Roman Britain. His story had already been told in chronicles, poems and sermons, as well as on the stage, when Shakespeare undertook the task of retelling it. After the Restoration, the play was often modified by theatre practitioners who disliked its nihilistic flavour, but, since World War II, it has come to be regarded as one of Shakespeare's greatest achievements. The part of King Lear has been played by many great actors, but is generally considered a role to be taken on only by those who have reached an advanced age. There are two significant versions of the play, The True Chronicle of the History of the Life and Death of King Lear and His Three Daughters, which appeared in quarto, and The Tragedy of King Lear which appeared in the First Folio. The two texts are commonly printed in a conflated version.
