The Signet Classics edition of one of William Shakespeare's bleakest tragedies. Full of cruelty and betrayal, King Lear is the story of an aging monarch whose blindness to the true nature of those around him ultimately leads to madness and despair. This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as: An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater A special introduction to the play by the editor, Russell Fraser Selections from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England