King Lear : The Arden Shakespeare

This important new edition introduces the reader to the wide range of critical, historical and textual perspectives on one of Shakespeare's greatest plays. Since the 1980s it has been recognised that the two early texts of the play, the Quarto of 1608 and the First Folio of 1623, represent two different versions, based perhaps on revision by Shakespeare, rather than alternatives produced by corruption in the theatre or printing-house. Subsequent editions have selected one or other version as the basis for the edited text. Foakes adopts a different approach, and offers an edited text which presents and clearly marks material deriving from each source, allowing readers to make their own editorial judgements.

Critically addressing recent explorations of King Lear as a play of redemption, of despair, and of destabilization, as well as discussing interpretations of his own, the editor encourages the reader in an understanding of the play's complexities rather than attempting to pin down singular meanings. Discussion of the play in performance is integrated both into the introduction and the commentary notes. In addition, Foakes looks not only at sources but also at the wider cultural meanings the play has held for subsequent generations.