King Lear

Arkangel Shakespeare

By: William Shakespeare

Narrated by: Trevor Peacock, Clive Merrison, full cast

This shattering drama of isolation and loss is one of the greatest tragedies in world literature.

King Lear of Britain has three daughters: the hard-hearted Goneril and Regan, and the good and gentle Cordelia. He determines to divide his kingdom between them, giving the largest share to she who can say she loves him the best. Lear's tragic lack of judgment and self-knowledge is paralleled by the blindness of the loyal Gloucester who is persuaded to reject his virtuous son, Edgar, in favor of the villainous Edmund.

Lear is played by Trevor Peacock and Gloucester by Clive Merrison. Penny Downie is Goneril, Samantha Bond is Regan, and Julia Ford is Cordelia. Edgar is played by David Tennant, Edmund by Gerard Murphy, and the Fool by John Rogan.

Public Domain (P)2014 Blackstone Audiobooks

Best listening

Arkangel Shakespeare is the only one I prefer it matches the Oxford book the best. Great discovery will only and always go with listening to Arkangel. Thank you.

A tale of pain and loss

The story is a drastic starter and tragic ending with so many plot twists and story entwining between so many kingdoms and kings with sisters fighting for royal right and conspiring brothers.

Great, this is the one

This is the good one. It is combined text (meaning Folio and quarto extras that were edited later on. If you don’t have part in you book, it’s fine. This is still good. (It’s the same for the other one too). Combined text version. I read on Norton anthology textbook which has all versions. This the good one. Most accurate.

Inspirational

Shakespeare always gives you more than you bargained for. The sisters personify the contrasting elements in life, just as Lear symbolizes life itself.

entertaining

this was a play for anyone who was wondering what it was. but in Shakespearean fashion it was actually really well put together. personally I was not prepared to listen to a play but I was thoroughly entertained throughout. the Mad King and the conspiracy that was set up against him was very interesting to hear. The actress did a phenomenal job train the different characters. I'm actually interested in looking up this play in person one day so I could actually make the image come more to life