King Lear, widely considered Shakespeare's most deeply moving, passionately expressed, and intellectually ambitious play, has almost always been edited from the revised version printed in the First Folio of 1623, with additions from the quarto of 1608.

Now for the first time, this new volume presents the full, scholarly edition to be based firmly on the quarto, now recognized as the base text from which all others derive. A thorough, attractively written introduction suggests how the work grew slowly in Shakespeare's imagination, fed by years of reading, thinking, and experience as a practical dramatist.

This editition consists of a new, modern-spelling text; a full index to the introduction and commentary; production photographs and related art. The on-page commentary and detailed notes to this edition offer critical help in understanding the language and dramaturgy in relation to the theaters in which King Lear was first performed. Additional sections reprint the early ballad, which was among the play's earliest sources, and provide additional guides to understanding and appreciating one of the greatest masterworks of Western civilization.

The Oxford Shakespeare offers authoritative texts from leading scholars in editions designed to interpret and illuminate the plays for modern readers.

Find the eBook on VitalSource.

Features

• A new, modern-spelling text, based on the Quarto text of 1608
• On-page commentary and notes explain meaning, staging, allusions and much else
• Detailed introduction considers composition, sources, performances and changing critical attitudes to the play
• Illustrated with production photographs and related art
• Includes 'The Ballad of King Lear' and related offshoots
• Full index to introduction and commentary
• Durable sewn binding for lasting use

'Not simply a better text but a new conception of Shakespeare. This is a major achievement of twentieth-century scholarship', Times Literary Supplement.

ABOUT THE SERIES

For over 100 years Oxford World's Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxford's commitment to scholarship, providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features, including expert introductions by leading authorities, helpful notes to clarify the text, up-to-date bibliographies for further study, and much more.

Preface
Contents
List of Illustrations
Introduction
What Shakespeare Wrote
When Shakespeare Wrote ‘King Lear’
Where the Play Came From
Legend
‘King Leir’
‘Arcadia’
Other Influences
Shaping the Play
The Play’s Language
Early Performance
‘King Lear’ as a Text for Readers
Performance Texts of ‘King Lear’
Nahum Tate’s Adaptation
Return to Shakespeare
Interpretation in Performance
Textual Introduction and Editorial Procedures
Abbreviations and References
The History of King Lear
The Ballad of King Lear
Offshoots of ‘King Lear’
Alterations to Lineation
Index
Footnote

William Shakespeare

Stanley Wells ran the Oxford Shakespeare Department within OUP while the Complete Works was in preparation. He is a former Director of the Shakespeare Institute, Stratford-upon-Avon.

"This is a supremely student-friendly edition that will have far-reaching implications.  Teachers throughout the English-speaking world will soon begin adopting Wells's edition for their courses.'' -- Eric Rasmussen, Shakespeare Survey

"Not simply a better text but a new conception of Shakespeare. This is a major achievement of twentieth-century scholarship." -- Times Literary Supplement.