King Richard III

King Richard III provides a portrait of Shakespeare’s most enduring arch-villain, a man who plots against his brothers, nephews, friends, and the powerful women in his life, including Lady Anne, Queen Margaret, and Queen Elizabeth.

This influential history play almost displaces the original historical figure it represents as it traces Richard’s rise to the throne in 15th century England. Disability and masculine villainy characterise nearly all performances of Richard III, spotlighting early modern and contemporary prejudice about their equivalence. This edition challenges the centrality of Richard as an absolute villain who casts all others in his shadow, making space for the formidable women who oppose him.

Exploring overlooked sources of influence, from Tacitus to St Paul, witchcraft to racialisation, and the possibility of Queen Elizabeth I watching a courtly performance of Richard III, this edition highlights what endures and what transforms in a play about the ruthlessness of narcissistic despotism.

The Arden Shakespeare Fourth Series King Richard III provides:

• A critical introduction to the play's textual, cultural, and performance history
• An edition that reassesses the complex textual history of the Quarto and Folio texts
• Detailed on-the-page notes explaining language, character, and performance
• A clear page layout with an easy-to-read font and single-column notes
• Images of relevant productions, paintings, and texts

The Arden Shakespeare Fourth Series includes a new edition of every Shakespeare play, the poems, and sonnets. Each volume is edited afresh by a leading scholar specialising in cutting-edge research on performance, gender, sexuality, and race. These editions cover everything you need to know as a student, teacher, researcher, theatre-maker, and performer of Shakespeare’s works today.