Book of the Week | 2: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

King Lear

The impact of the Gunpowder Plot of late 1605 has implications for contemporary playwrights.

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More episodes from this series

Book of the Week | 1: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

Book of the Week | 1: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

2015 | 14'08''

In 1606, Shakespeare was writing for a royal family hungry for new entertainment while the threats of plague, ...

Book of the Week | 2: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

Book of the Week | 2: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

2015 | 15'00''

The impact of the Gunpowder Plot of late 1605 has implications for contemporary playwrights.

Book of the Week | 3: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

Book of the Week | 3: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

2015 | 15'00''

An outbreak of the plague threatens the livelihood of Shakespeare when the theatres are closed.

Book of the Week | 4: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

Book of the Week | 4: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

2015 | 15'00''

Religious tensions come to the fore, aided by the king's insistence on an oath of allegiance.

Book of the Week | 5: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

Book of the Week | 5: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

2015 | 15'00''

King James's quest for the union of England and Scotland is not easily resolved.
Similar plays, poems and sonnets
King Lear | BBC Radio 4 | 2015

Book of the Week | William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

In 1606, Shakespeare was writing for a royal family hungry for new entertainment while the threats of plague, insurrection and rebellion threatened English society.
King Lear | BBC Radio 4 | 2015

Book of the Week | 3: William Shakespeare and the Year of Lear

An outbreak of the plague threatens the livelihood of Shakespeare when the theatres are closed.