Author: John Maule Lothian

Publisher: Toronto, Clarke, Irwin

Published: 1949

Total Pages: 116

ISBN-13:

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"King Lear, for the author is this book, is the most marvelous and moving piece of dramatic literature in the whole world. And lest this be regarded as the natural prejudice of a life-long enthusiast for Shakespeare, Mr. Lothian backs up his own opinion with that of Professor Dowden, 'King Lear is indeed the greatest single achievement in poetry of the Northen genius,' and of Maurice Maeterlinck, 'The tragedy of the old king constitutes the mightiest, the vastest, the most stirring, the most intense dramatic poem that has ever been written. What makes King Lear 'the most marvelous and moving piece of dramatic literature in the whole world'? Certainly not the plot which, in its barest outlines, the fairy story of a king and his three daughters, was already well known in Shakespeare's day. It is, then, Mr. Lothian feels, the additions that Shakespeare's genius made to it that have transmuted the fairy story into the masterpiece that it is. In the opening chapter of his book, the author considers in detail the additions made by Shakespeare to the old fairy tale. Later chapters deal with the meaning of the play, its significance and structure, with the character of Lear's Fool, with the weird world of the mind in which the mad king moved and lived, and with Edgar, a singularly complex character, who though cast in a minor role, is of prime importance to the development of the play." -Publisher.

Download or read book King Lear, a Tragic Reading of Life written by John Maule Lothian and published by Toronto, Clarke, Irwin. This book was released on 1949 with total page 116 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "King Lear, for the author is this book, is the most marvelous and moving piece of dramatic literature in the whole world. And lest this be regarded as the natural prejudice of a life-long enthusiast for Shakespeare, Mr. Lothian backs up his own opinion with that of Professor Dowden, 'King Lear is indeed the greatest single achievement in poetry of the Northen genius,' and of Maurice Maeterlinck, 'The tragedy of the old king constitutes the mightiest, the vastest, the most stirring, the most intense dramatic poem that has ever been written. What makes King Lear 'the most marvelous and moving piece of dramatic literature in the whole world'? Certainly not the plot which, in its barest outlines, the fairy story of a king and his three daughters, was already well known in Shakespeare's day. It is, then, Mr. Lothian feels, the additions that Shakespeare's genius made to it that have transmuted the fairy story into the masterpiece that it is. In the opening chapter of his book, the author considers in detail the additions made by Shakespeare to the old fairy tale. Later chapters deal with the meaning of the play, its significance and structure, with the character of Lear's Fool, with the weird world of the mind in which the mad king moved and lived, and with Edgar, a singularly complex character, who though cast in a minor role, is of prime importance to the development of the play." -Publisher.