Readers find "Richard III" by William Shakespeare to be a compelling and engaging play, with a mix of dark humor and memorable characters. The Folger edition is highly praised for its presentation, annotations, and modern perspective essay, providing a valuable reading experience. The play is described as one of Shakespeare's best works, featuring a complex villain in Richard and a poetic writing style that shines through.

Characters:

The characters are depicted with Richard as the ultimate villain, presenting a range of grey characters with complex motivations, including strongly defined women.

Writing/Prose:

The writing style features poetic language and rich character development, often incorporating humor, especially dark humor.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot involves complex familial and political relationships set during the Wars of the Roses, highlighting intertwined rivalries and betrayals.

Setting:

The setting is historical England during the backdrop of the Wars of the Roses, encompassing both court and battlefield scenes.

Pacing:

The pacing can be slow due to lengthy speeches but is fast-paced during action scenes, requiring careful reading to grasp nuances.

Shakespeare endures through history. He illuminates later times as well as his own. He helps us to understand the human condition. But he cannot do this without a good text of the plays. Without editi...

Notes:

The play Richard III is complex, involving intricate familial and political relationships.

Richmond in the play is actually Henry Tudor, who becomes Henry VII.

The Folger editions of Shakespeare are praised for their helpful notes and readability.

Reading Shakespeare's plays can help make his language feel more natural and understandable over time.

Richard III features memorable characters with dark humor and impactful poetry.

The play's themes are still relevant today, reflecting on political villainy and isolation.

The Folger editions offer a side-by-side text and notes layout for easier reading and understanding.

Curses in the play are both humorous and horrifying, highlighting its dark themes.

Some theatrical productions expect the audience to have prior knowledge of the play to fully appreciate the performance.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

The play contains themes of murder, betrayal, and the supernatural, which may be disturbing for some audiences.

From The Publisher:

Shakespeare's skillful manipulation of events and people makes Richard III a chilling incarnation of the lure of evil and the temptation of power.

Richard, Duke of Gloucester - the bitter, deformed brother of the King - 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.

Ratings (4)

Incredible (1)
Liked It (1)
It Was OK (2)

Reader Stats (12):

Read It (7)
Want To Read (3)
Not Interested (2)

1 comment(s)

yonnut903

It Was OK

1 week

Honestly, this play was kind of boring and a little too long for my liking.

What can you read after
Richard III?

See the list (100 books)

About the Author:

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, in 1564. The date of his birth is not known but is traditionally 23 April, St George's Day. Aged 18, he married a Stratford farmer's daughter, Anne Hathaway. They had three children. Around 1585 William joined an acting troupe on tour in Stratford from London, and thereafter spent much of his life in the capital. A member of the leading theatre group in London, the Chamberlain's Men, which built the Globe Theatre and frequently performed in front of Queen Elizabeth I, Shakespeare wrote 36 plays and much poetry besides. He died in 1616.

Meet New Books is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to products and services on amazon.com and its subsidiaries.
When you click the Amazon link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commision, at no cost to you.

Richard III

William Shakespeare