Author: W. ShakespearePublisher:
ISBN: 9781417739387
Category : Drama
Languages : en
Pages :
Book Description
The classic tragedy about the downfall of King Richard II is presented with critical commentary and historical background
Richard II
Author: Nigel SaulPublisher: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300149050
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 529
Book Description
Richard II is one of the most enigmatic of English kings. Shakespeare depicted him as a tragic figure, an irresponsible, cruel monarch who nevertheless rose in stature as the substance of power slipped from him. By later writers he has been variously portrayed as a half-crazed autocrat or a conventional ruler whose principal errors were the mismanagement of his nobility and disregard for the political conventions of his age. This book—the first full-length biography of Richard in more than fifty years—offers a radical reinterpretation of the king. Nigel Saul paints a picture of Richard as a highly assertive and determined ruler, one whose key aim was to exalt and dignify the crown. In Richard's view, the crown was threatened by the factiousness of the nobility and the assertiveness of the common people. The king met these challenges by exacting obedience, encouraging lofty new forms of address, and constructing an elaborate system of rule by bonds and oaths. Saul traces the sources of Richard's political ideas and finds that he was influenced by a deeply felt orthodox piety and by the ideas of the civil lawyers. He shows that, although Richard's kingship resembled that of other rulers of the period, unlike theirs, his reign ended in failure because of tactical errors and contradictions in his policies. For all that he promoted the image of a distant, all-powerful monarch, Richard II's rule was in practice characterized by faction and feud. The king was obsessed by the search for personal security: in his subjects, however, he bred only insecurity and fear. A revealing portrait of a complex and fascinating figure, the book is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the politics and culture of the English middle ages.
Author: Kathryn Warner
Author: William ShakespeareRichard II
Author: William ShakespearePublisher: Independently Published
ISBN: 9781728877501
Category :
Languages : en
Pages : 218
Book Description
Richard II by William Shakespeare . Richard II is one of Shakespeare's finest works: lucid, eloquent, and boldly structured. It can be seen as a tragedy, or a historical play, or a political drama, or as one part of a vast dramatic cycle which helped to generate England's national identity. Today, to some of us, Richard II may appear conservative; but, in Shakespeare's day, it could appear subversive: 'I am Richard II', declared an indignant Queen Elizabeth. Numerous recent revivals in the theatre and on screen have demonstrated the enduring power and poignancy of this drama of the downfall of an egoistic but pitiable monarch.
Author: William ShakespeareThe Reign of Richard II
Author: A. K. McHardyPublisher: Manchester University Press
ISBN: 9780719038525
Category : History
Languages : en
Pages : 368
Book Description
The long-awaited prequel to Chronicles of the Revolution covers the first twenty years (1377-97) of Richard II's reign. This richly-documented period offers exceptional opportunities and challenges to students, and the editor has selected material from a wide range of sources: well-known English chronicles, foreign chronicles and legal, administrative and financial records. These are arranged chronologically to form a coherent narrative of the reign. Clear and lively commentary and notes enable readers to make the fullest use of each document. The introduction describes the complex domestic and international situation which confronted the young king and offers guidance on the strengths and weaknesses of the reign's leading chronicles. The dramatic and diverse politics of the reign of Richard II make this the ideal special subject and an accessible, affordable, student-friendly documentary history of Richard II's reign has long been needed. This book is designed to fill that gap.
Richard II and the Irish Kings
Author: Darren McGettiganPublisher:
ISBN: 9781846826023
Category : Ireland
Languages : en
Pages : 0
Book Description
The late medieval kings of England showed little interest in their Lordship of Ireland. They showed even less interest in the Gaelic Irish population of the island. Richard II, however, was different. This English monarch led two expeditions to Ireland in 1394-5 and the summer of 1399. Once across the Irish Sea, it was Richard's fate to encounter a group of able Gaelic Irish kings, who were probably the most capable and talented of the entire late medieval period. Of these chieftains the most prominent were Art MacMurchadha Caomhanach, king of the Leinster Mountains, and Niall Mor and Niall Og O Neill, kings of Tyrone and high-kings of Ulster. Richard II ended up largely out-negotiated after his first expedition to the island, and unexpectedly outfought during his second. When he returned to his English kingdom Richard was immediately deposed and later murdered by his cousin, Henry, duke of Hereford, who then became King Henry IV. This book is the story of these remarkable encounters between a late medieval English monarch and his reluctant Gaelic Irish vassals at the close of the 14th century. *** "Among the most valuable aspects of the book is its meticulous account of the contemporary sources. Recommended [for] library collections on Richard II, the English monarchy, and medieval Ireland." --Choice, Vol. 54, No. 9, May 2017 [Subject: Medieval History, Early Modern History, Invasions & Conquests, Monarchy, Ireland & the UK]
Author: Marie Louise BruceRichard II
Author: Jeremy LopezPublisher: Routledge
ISBN: 1136479767
Category : Literary Criticism
Languages : en
Pages : 331
Book Description
Arguably the first play in a Shakespearean tetralogy, Richard II is a unique and compelling political drama whose themes still resonate today. It is one of the few Shakespeare plays written entirely in verse and its format presents unique theatrical challenges. Politically engaged and controversial, it raises crucial debates about the relationship between early modern art, audience response and state power. This collection provides a comprehensive and up-to-date survey of the critical and theatrical history of the play. The substantial introduction surveys the history of critical interpretations of Richard II since the eighteenth century. The eleven newly written critical essays by leading and emerging scholars in the field then adopt an eclectic range of critical approaches that encourage scholars and students to pursue new and imaginative directions with the text.
