The ill-fated reign of King Richard II and his eventual overthrow take center stage in one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays.

This title in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes:

• An overview of William Shakespeare’s life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, Kenneth Muir
• A note on the source from which Shakespeare derived Richard II—a generous selection of Raphael Holinshed’s The Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland
• Dramatic criticism from Walter Pater, Richard D. Altick, Derek Traversi, and others
• A stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of Richard II
• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable format
• Recommended readings

Considered one of Shakespeare's greatest history plays, The Tragedy of King Richard II concerns the ill-fated reign of a king whose eventual overthrow marks the beginning of Shakespeare's history cycle, including Henry IV, Part I, Henry IV Part II; and Henry V.

This edition features an overview of Shakespeare's works by Sylvan Barnet, former Chairman of the English Department at Tufts University, as well as a comprehensive stage and screen history, dramatic criticism from the past and present, and sources from which Shakespeare derived this great work.