Product Description
King Lear is Shakespeare’s bleakest and profoundest tragedy, a searing dramatization of humankind at the edge of apocalypse that explores the family and the nature of being with passion, poetry, and dark humor.

Under the editorial supervision of Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen, two of today’s most accomplished Shakespearean scholars, this Modern Library series incorporates definitive texts and authoritative notes from William Shakespeare: Complete Works. Each play includes an Introduction as well as an overview of Shakespeare’s theatrical career; commentary on past and current productions based on interviews with leading directors, actors, and designers; scene-by-scene analysis; key facts about the work; a chronology of Shakespeare’s life and times; and black-and-white illustrations.

Ideal for students, theater professionals, and general readers, these modern and accessible editions set a new standard in Shakespearean literature for the twenty-first century. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
"The Christian Alternative to Harry Potter."

What do an old wooden box, a jeweled pendant and some mysterious, green-garbed strangers share in common? When Rolin son of Gannon is caught up in this riddle, his adventures take him worlds beyond the walls of his little log cabin. With the help of some grumpy griffins and a long-lost prophecy that holds the key to his destiny, Rolin and his friends battle a sorcerer and his underworld army; batwolves, dragons and other creatures. On their perilous quest for the blessed Isle of Luralin, they must trust the King with their very lives. In the end, they learn that "The greatest help oft comes in harm’s disguise to those with trusting hearts and open eyes." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Exciting, but had problems
"The King of Trees" is a fast-paced fantasy adventure that's marketed to males and females ages 8 and up. The main characters were all males, so I think it would appeal most to boys. Since the author used a fair number of infrequently-used big words, I'd suggest it for teens and up. The author also used made-up names, some of them very similar sounding. I had some trouble keeping track of who was who and what was what. Sometimes there were even two names for the same thing: like griffins were called griffins, but usually they were called sorc. There's a glossary with pronunciation guide in the back to help with this.

While I could see the influence of novels like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "The Lord of the Rings," the story was original. It was also action-packed and exciting, and the characters were fun and likable.

There were several times that I didn't understand why Rolin acted the way he did during a critical parts of the novel. For example, Rolin was curious and wanted to explore a new world but knew it could be very dangerous. He decided to just take a peek and immediately come back. He goes to the new world, then, without any explanation as to why he changed his mind, he roamed through a creepy forest, knocked on the door to an evil-feeling building, and shouted to see if anyone was around.

Also, on a few occasions near the end, I had a "where did that come from" moment. As in, we weren't told that Rolin still had an object with him. Logically, he shouldn't still have it and, if he did, he would've been using it earlier. But then he suddenly does have it.

This story is a Christian allegory. It's somewhat subtle at first, but in the second half, the allegory was very obvious and rather heavy-handed. At the end, the plot was being driven more by the needs of the allegory than by naturally arising from the characters or their circumstances. Also, the Tree of Life (the Christ-like character) frequently spoke verses found in the Bible, especially those said by Jesus. To have a tree--which was a being created by the Father God figure (p.35)--go from playing a Christ-like allegorical role to essentially being Christ bothered me. Anyone without Biblical knowledge will probably be confused by it since some of the quotes seem to come out of nowhere. Also, Jesus isn't a created being so portraying Christ as a created tree-being who then created humans was a rather critical bit of theology to portray incorrectly.

There were a few sketchy drawings throughout the book. There was no bad language or sex. Overall, I'd recommend it as exciting, clean reading as long as none of the above are problems for you.

The King of the Trees
If you like Lord of the Rings thwn you will enjoy this book as well as the others written by William Burt.he is also a friend of mine.These books will keep you reading, full of adventure at each turn of the page!

The King of the Trees
As a three time teacher of the year I can fully recommend The King of the Trees for fun, adventure reading. The old theme of good vs evil is replayed in a refreshing setting. The plot and characters are believable and enjoyable. While the end is predictable to older readers, children will love this story. Parallels can be drawn between other good vs evil plots including: Lord of the Rings, The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe, and many Bible stories.

A Imagination Inspirer all will Love
This is wonderful book that you and your children will absolutely love. We read this every night together before going to bed and every night I was begged if we could read just one more chapter. This imaginative book will draw you and your children in and you will love the characters you come to know and the places you will go. I highly recommend this book and we are anxiously awaiting another to follow.

"May your sythan-ar ever flourish!"

..... and may you never run into a "yeg" upon your travels in the forest.

Excellent choice for all ages
King of the Trees is a childrens story of magic, imagination and fire breathing dragons coupled with Christian values and Biblical inferences which is wonderful reading for all ages. As a senior citizen I have read itfrom cover to cover and enjoyed every chapter. I will definitely recommendit to my children and grandchildren as a classic. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Wonderful William
My brother has got this book and everytime I go to his place I look at it.I even remember when it came out.It is a fantastic book and I love it.That is why I have purchased a copy...

This is a great book for all ages.
There is a nice informal picture of Prince Charles, Princess Diana, and Prince William on the front cover.On the inside cover and the next page is a family tree of Prince William's relatioship within the British RoyalFamily and with the Royal Families of Europe.The Prince of Wales' coat ofarms which Prince William will inherit when he assumes he title.

Ihave had this book since its publication, I have read it many times, and Ihave looked at its beautiful pictures so many times. I've really never paidmuch attention to Prince William's horoscope which was written at the timeof his birth by John Naylor, President, Federeration of BritishAstrologers.

The following is taken from the horoscope : "...Conservative in thought and basically cautious in action, though notwithout strong prejudices too.These qualities will be combined with anuncanny intuition which will enable him to read minds, anticipateactions.

"...he has a good share of courage, ambition, aggressionand physical vitality, quite a temper, and a vein of foolhardiness...

"...Prince William's horoscope has the hallmark of monarchy, whereashis father Prince Charles' lacks this distinctive feature, as did KingEdward VIII, the Duke of Windsor's.

"A good I.Q. and a usefulacademic ability is indicated, but it is an intellect which is imaginativeand artistic, which inclines toward idealism and perfectionisim, ratherbeing pragmatic, anaytical or rational...His ready sympathies and hisemotionalism make him a romantic, gullible, susceptible to flattery, a'good fellow.'

"Prince William has an affinity for the sea...Yet,more than most members of the royal family, he has intellectualcapabilities.He leans towards being an academic...he could develop aninterest in constitutional law...

"Not only because he is aprince, but because he has great charm, is sensitive, sympathetic andresponsive as well as being full of vitality, he will wreak havoc withfeminine hearts...

" The astrological picture is therefore of anaffectionate, sensitive yet lively child, courageous, and possessing a veinaf aggression which will flare from time to time.He will need and demand,a lot of affection and attention, being prone to vivid emotional affectionand approval.

"...In maturity he will have a vigorous, activedispostion and will be capable of becoming a considerable stateman,combining keen intuition and a feel for public mood and reaction with auseful capacity for leadship...

"...Yet the most interestingindication in regard to Prince William's future occurs in the late 1980's. Both he and his mother, the Princess of Wales, are Cancersubjects...Different but comparable indications occur in the horoscopes ofthe other principal royals, the Queen, Prince Philip, and Prince Charles. Royal stars suggest that the second half of the 1980's the winds of changewill blow through the royal corridors; the younger generation, PrinceWilliam amongst them, coming into greater prominence.Happenings in thesummer of 1985 will set this trend into motion."

I included theseexcerpts because I believe that are most interesting in view of all that'shappened to Prince William in his short life.

Shortly before dawn aroyal-blue Rover police car proceeded out of the gates of Kensington Palaceand sped towards Paddington to St. Mary's Hospital.There were only fourpeople in the car - the chauffeur, the personal detective, Prince Charles,and his twenty-year-old wife.Shortly after five o'clock Diana, Princessof Wales, was admitted to the Lido Wing.For once in her twenty-one monthsin the glare of publicity, there was not a photographer in sight.However,it was not to reamin this way for long.By the time Buckingham Palacereleased the news of the princess' arrival, there was a continous, steadystream of well wishers and onlookers.By ten o'clock the fist flowers hadarrived.

Within the hour after the birth of Prince William, BuckinghamPalace made its official announcement.However, the news traveled fasterby mouth.There were tremendous choruses of "For He's a Jolly GoodFellow" and chant variations on a footbal theme of - "Nice OneCharlie-Give Us Another One."

The crowds began to swell inanticipation of Prince Charles' emergence.I can remember watching TV andwondering if he were ever going to come outside.Of course, when heemerged, it was the first time he had been seen in public that day.Therewas lipstick on his cheek and soon there was more.He appeared to beextremely happy as he spoke of his first-born in glowing terms such as"beautiful" and "marvelous form" and he himself was"relieved and delighted" and duly impressed by the experience ofattending the birth.With warmth and concern Prince Charles thankedeveryone for their interest and concern.I was almost 11:30pm when thePrince left for home at Kensington Palace.

Anyone who was watching TVwill never forget the Prince of Wales leaving the hospital the next daywith the glamourous Princess and their baby prince.Prince William was thefirst direct heir to the Throne who was born in a hospital.Princess Dianacould not wait to get him home.They certainly appear to be a radiantlyhappy couple as they leave the hospital with their small bundle of joy.picture p. 123

I hope there is a republication of this book so thatthose who don't have it will be able to puchase this beautiful book.

This book is a must for all who collect books on the Royal Family or justenjoy reading about them.

This refers to the hardback edition whichwas published in 1982 and measures 91/4x113/4 inches.

A heartwarming, loving look at the boy born to be king.
This is a tender, loving look at Prince William and his royal heritage.There are plenty of color photographs of the royal family showing clearly the love of the proud parents as well as photographs of them as babies.This book will warm your heart and have you ooohing and aaahing within the first few pages.This is a must for anyone who is interested in the royals or anyone who loves babies.If each picture is worth a thousand words, then this book is priceless.It is a pure joy and holds the memories of a family which was dealt a tradgic, cruel blow.

A heartwarming, loving look at the boy born to be king.
This is a tender, loving look at Prince William and his royal heritage.There are plenty of color photographs of the royal family showing clearly the love of the proud parents as well as photographs of them as babies.This book will warm your heart and have you ooohing and aaahing within the first few pages.This is a must for anyone who is interested in the royals or anyone who loves babies.If each picture is worth a thousand words, then this book is priceless.It is a pure joy and holds the memories of a family which was dealt a tradgic, cruel blow. ... Read more

Product Description
With his companion Felix, Gotrek the dwarf trollslayer roams the wild, dark places of the Warhammer world, seeking a glorious death in battle. The second omnibus edition of their adventures will complement the book collection of any fantasy fan. This volume includes the books: Dragonslayer, Beastslayer and Vampireslayer ... Read more

Customer Reviews (13)

From Salvatore to Gotrek & Felix
After reading the first Omnibus I bought this.If you liked the first 3 books, you will love this.It continues on with the Slayer and his human "friend" and there adventures together.This is a must have if you want to continue reading about the two.

Another amazing set of fantasy novels
This second omnibus (which contains Gotrek & Felix novels four through six) is just as solid as the first omnibus. If you've read those novels (and I would hope you have if you're looking at the second omnibus), then you will like these just as much. The action, humor, and gore is maintained very well. Character's develop a bit slowly but considering the type of pulp-fiction King aims to create, it is suitable. As always, I am impressed with his ability to accurately represent the Warhammer universe.

My only complaint about these novels is that King cuts over to the Skaven storyline way too much throughout the novels. It gets boring after a while, and I did skip over some of those parts.

I have reviewed all three Gotrex & Felix omnibus collections that are available. If you want to see my other reviews, please see my Amazon profile.

Great Read
This omnibus is a great read just like the first, the only gripes i have is that the book tended to lean heavily Felix's thoughts and feelings about Ulrika and BEASTSLAYER would of been a bit better if it wasnt dragged out for so long.

Even with the two gripes aforementioned, i still give this omnibus 5 stars.

WOW!!!!! Even better than the first omnibus edition, truly amazing.
This is the second Omnibus of the Gotrex and Felix saga, i'll tell you a little bit anout each book in this Omnibus set.

Book 4: DRAGONSLAYER.

This is another action packed tale of the two heroes on their quest for both death and fame, here we see the troop of heroes coming back from their mission to the lost Dwarf keep only to find the army of the Scaven had captured their friend and allies keep, but this is not Gotrex and Felix's worst problem, while escaping the chaos waste they witness a gathering of chaos warriors ready to invade the world of men. Battling Scaven, Orcs, Chaos warriors and the might of an ancient dragon this book is an action packed thrill ride.

Book 5: BEASTSLAYER.

In this book we see Gotrex and Felix hold up in the massive fortress of Praag which is under siege by the massive army of Chaos warriors and their Beastmen allies. This book has everything you could ever what from an epic fantasy fiction, the action is none stop with plenty of battles, assassinations and political intrigue. If you liked Gemmell's Legend then you will love this book, so far the best of the Gotrex and Felix saga.

Book 6: VAMPIRESLAYER.

This book sees Gortrex and Felix survive the horrors of the siege of Praag only to find themselves fighting in the ruined city against the scavengers of the night and their dark magics, this book while good was not as good as the first two in the second Omnibus, like the first to books this is an action packed thrill ride, while I would only gives this book alone 4/5 and the two previous books 5/5, this is a great ending to the second and hopefully not final Gotrex and Felix Omnibus.

The family that slays together stays together
'Felix Jaeger' manages to continue keeping his blood oath to document the heroic death of Dwarf Slayer 'Gotrek Gurnisson' through many trials and tribulations. This omnibus contains books 4 through 6 (Dragonslayer, Beastslayer and Vampireslayer) in the 'Warhammer Fantasy' flagship series. One of the earlier reviewers noted that they thought that 'Vampire Slayer' was a weak link in the series. I don't agree. If you've already read the first omnibus, this is more of the same. If you are new to the series, or new to Warhammer check out 'Gotrek & Felix: The First Omnibus', it's a great read. Candy. ... Read more

Product Description
The definitive account of the assassination ofMartin Luther King, Jr.

On April 4 1968, Martin Luther King was in Memphis supporting a workers' strike. By nightfall, army snipers were in position, military officers were on a nearby roof with cameras, and Lloyd Jowers had been paid to remove the gun after the fatal shot was fired. When the dust had settled, King had been hit and a clean-up operation was set in motion-James Earl Ray was framed, the crime scene was destroyed, and witnesses were killed. William Pepper, attorney and friend of King, has conducted a thirty-year investigation into his assassination. In 1999, Loyd Jowers and other co-conspirators were brought to trial in a civil action suit on behalf of the King family. Seventy witnesses set out the details of a conspiracy that involved J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI, Richard Helms and the CIA, the military, Memphis police, and organized crime. The jury took an hour to find for the King family. In An Act of State, you finally have the truth before you-how the US government shut down a movement for social change by stopping its leader dead in his tracks.

Customer Reviews (4)

History is indebted to William Pepper
William Pepper's powerful recounting of his thirty-year quest to uncover the truth behind the assassination of Martin Luther King, is absolutely riveting.Who knew that a civil jury had found that a governmental conspiracy was behind the King assassination?History is indebted to Mr. Pepper for the dedicated work he has done here,and in the process for revealing the mainstream media for what it is--the public relations firm for a murderous and corrupted government.Fearing the emergence of the "New World Order?"Apparently that nightmare has been a reality since at least the 1960s.

On a more optimistic note, especially moving in "An Act of State" is Mr. Pepper's insight into, and expression of, all that Martin Luther King stood for and believed in.And yes, Mr. King's dream does live on in each of us who internalized it, as Mr. Pepper prosaically notes in the afterword.

A model for successful assassinations
It's front-page news in 2009 that Dick Cheney presided over covert hit squads operating around the world and very likely in the US, too. It may be "news" --- but it's not really new.

What this flawed but very important book reveals, based on 20 years of research by attorney Pepper, is the MO used in the '60s to eliminate an enemy of the Status Quo. Pepper's investigation determined that King was most likely killed by a hidden gunman who happened to be the Memphis police force's top marksman, and he in turn was backed up by Army Special Ops snipers posted on nearby buildings to "triangulate" the target. (Perhaps this sounds absurd --- please read the book.) A patsy,James Earl Ray, was framed to take the rap; the rifle he supposedly used was found to be woefully inaccurate, and bullets fired from it didn't match the one that killed King. Witnesses and peripheral participants in the crime were murdered. Evidence was lost or tampered with. Ray pleaded guilty on the advice of his lawyer, Percy Foreman, who had deep connections to the likely perpetrators of the assassination. A massive cover-up and disinfo campaign ensured that the public would discount any version of what happened in favor of the official myth.

Does any of this sound familiar?

Every American should know the facts presented in this book
In short, Martin Luther King was killed by agents of the City of Memphis, the State of Tennessee, and the Federal Government.The family sued for his wrongful death, the case was argued before a jury, which found for the King Family.

The family has posted the transcript from the trial at their website, so you can follow-up and learn more after reading the book:

http://www.thekingcenter.org/news/trial.html

It is very important that everyone in the US and the world understands that it will be almost impossible for some lone-nut to kill Obama unless the Secret Service stands down.

Compelling Story of US Government Role in Death of Martin Luther King
Edit of 8 May 08:Reverend Wright preaches in the negative, but this does not mean he is wrong, only inflamatory.Senator Obama's first instinct was correct: he can no more deny those who walked with us than we can the truth.In renouncing Reverend Wright, Senator Obama demonstrated his subordination to "the system," the same subordination that swallowed Colin Powell, who confused loyalty with integrity.

John 8:32 Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

The updated book is better than the original because it includes a post 9-11 Afterword.

So many people are going to consider this book to be a provocation, a conspiracy theory, revisionist, etc. I will start with three compelling reasons to take this seriously:

1.The author is a recognized barrister in England and lawyer in the US.His reputation is impeccable, and he is respected by heads of state and of international organizations concerned with human rights.

2.The author brought a civil suit in which it took the jury less than one hour of deliberation after all the facts had been laid out, to find for the plaintiffs (the King family survivors) and agree that the US Government was complicit in his murder.

3.The evidence of US Government complicity in crimes against humanity as well as high crimes and misdemeanors of all sorts, is now over-whelming within the non-fiction literature.Cover-ups are the norm.

Here are my flyleaf notes:

+ King was leading a coalition of peace and civil rights in 1967, one that expanded to address economic injustice and the rights of indigenous people's everywhere, but especially in Viet-Nam.This "new politics," like the third party politics of today, was so threatening to the Mafia, to banks and corporations, and to the US political and FBI leadership committed to "because we say so, right or wrong," that he was ordered killed.

+ The author tells us that by 1970 King's moral authority was directly challenging the moral bankruptcy of the American "state," which King aptly described as "the greatest purveyor of violence on Earth."See my review of The Fifty-Year Wound: How America's Cold War Victory Has Shaped Our World and also Legacy of Ashes: The History of the CIA

+ Unlike others who accepted the government's fictional account at face value, the author actually interviewed James Earl Ray in prison, and over time clearly established both Ray's veracity, and additional evidence.

+ The FBI burglarized Martin Luther King over 20 times.

+ Less than one month after the John F. Kennedy assassination (he was warned and discounted the warning delivered by his brother), the FBI made Martin Luther King its top target, focusing on "neutralizing King as an effective leader."The cover-up is exposed in Someone Would Have Talked: The Assassination of President John F. Kennedy and the Conspiracy to Mislead History.

+ At least two funded "hits" on King were discovered, but the one that succeeded involved Frank Liberto, a Mafia boss in the food business, who evidently forgave a major debt from Lloyd Jowers who served as the on-site cut-out for the weapon but did not do the shooting himself.Links are discussed between the FBI, the Mafia, and local police.

+ The local police pulled back all assigned security, took black officers off watch, and evidently arranged to have King moved from a protected inner courtyard room to an upper room directly in the line of sight from the bushes where the shooter was planning to be.

+ 30 years seems to be the magic time period that must pass before individuals sworn to secrecy to protect political malfeasance realize they should ease their consciences before death.

+ The book includes an appendix that shows the many times the Department of Justice willfully lied or omitted evidence in its own investigation.

+ The author presented nine areas to a court that found for the plaintiff; they are listed on page 108:

01 the background to the assassination
02 the local conspiracy
03 the crime scene
04 the murder weapon
05 Raul (the handler)
06 the broader conspiracy
07 the cover up--its scope and activities
08 the defendant's prior admissions
09 damages

The King family sought damages of just $100.Far more important to them was the verdict of the jury: the US Government, and particularly the FBI and US Army counterintelligence elements acting against US citizens on US soil, were complicit in the murder (assassination) of Martin Luther King.

The author places King is direct opposition to the materialism and the secularization of life to include a loss of morality in US foreign policy.Specifically mentioned in this book are King's objection to US Government support for dictators.See my review of Breaking the Real Axis of Evil: How to Oust the World's Last Dictators by 2025.

The author states that he could not have obtained a trial date, much less a verdict, without the full engagement of the King family.Their participation was of inestimable value, he says.He then goes on to describe how the media, which did not attend the trial, slandered (broadcast) and libeled (print) the family and the memory of Martin Luther King.[This is the same media that refused to run $100,000 cash in advance information advertisements against the elective war on Iraq.]

The author specifically warns of the discreet movement in 2007 of the Violent Radicalization Act allowing the White House to redirect the National Guard from any state to any other state, and believes that there is now an explicit fear among "the elite" of impending and complete system collapse and a public rebellion of consequence.

I have a note from the book, that Martin Luther King was branded a traitor.So also was General Tony Zinni, USMC (Ret), the most recently retired Commander in Chief of the U.S. Central Command, and the single most knowledgeable authority at the time on Iraq, Iran, the Middle East, the Pakistan wild card, and Afghanistan.My bottom line: we are lied to; the "experts" are not expert and pander for access--it is time we assert the collective intelligence of We the People.

Completely unexpected to me, but relevant in the context of other books I have been reading, is the author's outline of how King and allthat he stood for called into question the entire-military industrial complex and the misdirection of most of our money toward waging war.See my review of War is a Racket: The Antiwar Classic by America's Most Decorated Soldier and of the DVD Why We Fight.

The last page of the body of the book, page 288, has this quote that I marked:

"Martin King firmly believed that non-violent civil disobedience was the best strategy to obtain justice.There is little doubt in my mind that massive non-violent civil disobedience has the potential to shut down the nation, and compel substantive social, economic, political, and cultural change, leading to the reconstruction of the Republic with a focus on the needs of people rather than capital.His dream lives on in each of us who internalized it."

See these two books for a taste of our potential:
Spoiling for a Fight: Third-Party Politics in America
Collective Intelligence: Creating a Prosperous World at Peace

Why the two party system is organized crime at its best:
Running on Empty: How the Democratic and Republican Parties Are Bankrupting Our Future and What Americans Can Do About It

Why Senator Barack Obama is not the one (and today he Uncle Tom'ed himself--Reverend Wright's concerns are firmly founded on non-fiction):
Obama - The Postmodern Coup: Making of a Manchurian Candidate

To fulfill the dream, we need a third party with no experts, just us. ... Read more

Product Description
Dragonslayer is the latest epic instalment in the death-seeking saga of Gotrek and Felix.After the daring exploits of Daemonslayer, the fearless duo find themselves pursued by the insidious and ruthless skaven-lord, Grey Seer Thanquol.Dragonslayer sees the fearless Slayer and his sworn companion back aboard an arcane Dwarf airship in a search for a golden hoard and its deadly guardian. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Gotrek and Felix, Book Four
Slayer Gotrek Gurnisson is a dwarf on a death quest. He roams the land searching for the mightiest of evils to fight and slay until he is finally rewarded with a glorious death that will long be remembered and talked about for generations to come. Felix Jaegor is sworn to accompany the Slayer, however long it takes, even though it could end in his own death. Should he survive, it will be Felix's job to record and report the heroic dwarf's many battles, as well as how Gotrek fell in combat.

This time they are after the mighty dragon Skjalandir, a ferocious beast that has awaken after a couple centuries of sleep. But Skjalandir is not the only problem lately. The forces of Darkness are coming in the form of an orcish invasion that may rival the Chaos Incursion two centuries prior. Grey Seer Thanquol, one of the Skaven, along with Lurk, his mutated henchman, wants revenge against the dwarf and human. Lastly, the infamous orc leader, Ugrek Manflayer, is en route. It all adds up for one heck of a climatic ending, typical of the Felix and Gotrek pairing.

**** The dragon did not show up in this story nearly as much as I expected. However, there are several battles and tactical plans to keep readers entertained. The love triangle between Ulrika, Felix, and Max continues as a sub-plot, not to mention the Thanquol sub-plot. Readers will not find anything new in the love triangle, but there is a bit of change in the parts concerning Thanquol and Lurk. In an interesting twist, readers will find out what is so special about the sword Felix has been carrying.

The scenes jump around often, but in my opinion, not too much so as to become a problem or confusing. The background of some of the main characters are filled out some so I actually feel as though I understand them a bit more, as well as how they think. This shows great talent on the author's part. A great addition to the Gotrek & Felix series! ****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Another Installment of G&F
Gotrek and Felix are at it again!This time, they fight the Chaos Dragon Skjalandir, and learn of a great incursion of Chaos--due to be fought out in Beastslayer.

The main theme is Gotrek's quest for a heroic death, but he is sidetracked by a friend's death (read to find out who's) and decides to kill the Dragon.

The theme of Order plays out greatly in this installment, the set-in-stone traditions of the Dwarfs against the Chaoticness of the dragon and Orcs.

Read this book, you won't be disappointed.

More carnage and mayem!
If you are reading this, I hope that you have read the previous three books in the series (Trollslayer, Skavenslayer, Deamonslayer). If not, perhaps you are just curious to what this series is all about. If you are, go pick up a copy of Trollslayer. It is a short story anthology of Gotrek and Felix's early adventures. The first two stories alone will give you all the information you need as to whether this series is for you. Now on to the readers of the previous books...

In Dragonslayer, Gotrek and Felix face, yep you guessed it, a dragon. Ah, but it's no ordinary dragon (as you'll have to read to book to find out). No new ground is broken in this book, but I think that's exactly what King's readers want. Gotrek and Felix are familiar characters that we like just how they are. We like the kinds of adventures they have. We're not looking for deep personal dramas or romances. The Slayer series is like Raiders of the Lost Ark with an Axe! And Kings fans love it.

This book takes off directly where Daemonslayer ends making this book feel more like it's part of a series than any of the previous books. A decent amount of time is spent in a Dwarven city making for a new and interesting setting, and for the first time since Wolfridders, Gotrek gets to confront Gobbos (sort of).

It was inevitable that the duo would clash against a dragon (especially since in the game, the progression of a slayer in order is: trollslayer, giantslayer, dragonslayer, daemonslayer), and after facing off against a greater daemon, what else can you do? I still feel that, like daemonslayer, the scope of these conflicts is too soon for a series that will last 10-12 books, but it's fun none-the-less. Readers of Daemonlayer will note that this book is a little slower and less climactic than that book, but it is still one of the best in the series.

As always, my reviews are meant to be objective. Fans of the series can add an extra star.

Another enjoyable entry in this winner of a series
While not as intense as its predecessor in the series, this fourth entry in the Felix and Gotrek saga (after Trollslayer, Skavenslayer and Daemonslayer) is every bit as fun.

This book follows the fearless pair and their comrades back from the horrors of the Chaos Wastes and on to a hidden mountain citadel of the dwarves. As usual, along the way there's plenty of axe hewing action and bloodspattered goodness.

The dragon of the title of course shows up, as well as a nice little horde of orcs you know you can rely on to show our heroes some special hospitality.

Not an absolutely essential entry in this series, but a very welcome addition for people like me who just can't get enough of this pair.

For people just beginning this series, I'd probably recommend Daemonslayer first.

Dragonslayer
After racing through the first books in the series, it just gets better.Immensely enjoyabe read if you are into fantasy, AD&Dor sword and sorcery.Fairly light and fast moving, good humour and interesting characters (when axe is not hewing into skaven flesh).Many orcs died, and Grotek did not think it too many.
I like this series because William Kings writing style delivers fast and furious action while finding time to create interest in the fate of our doom seeking heroes.My idea of dwarves being stubborn, intractable, built like mountains and almost single minded in purpose fits in nicely with one of the main characters, Grotek.
If you enjoy Shillatoe, Dave Duncan, Weiss/Hickman, Gemmell and so forth, but wanted a bit more action (ok, and a little less depth of character) then have some fun with this series. ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (8)

Highly recommended, particularly for both college and public library collections
Newspaper editor and magazine publisher Kenneth Whyte presents The Uncrowned King: The Sensational Rise of William Randolph Hearst, an engaging, lively, and aptly researched study of the life and skyrocketed career of the man whose impression and influence on the world of news overtook that of Joseph Pulitzer himself. Hearst (1863-1951) laid the foundation of one of America's biggest media empires, yet to this day his reputation remains tarred by accusations of sensationalism, self-promotion, warmongering, and even untruthfulness. The Uncrowned King is as much a pleasure to read as it is jam-packed with researched detail, bringing to life its portrait of a passionate and dedicated American of boundless ambition - not to mention a vivid glimpse of the excesses of the Gilded age. Highly recommended, particularly for both college and public library collections.

Young newspaper owner William Randolph Hearst goes east to win fame on New York's Park Row of the New York Journal
William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951) is the most famous newspaper owner in American history. Willie's father was a United States Senator from California and his mother was a society matron who was smart and formidable. Hearst was a millionaire at birth; his father gave him the family owned San Francisco paper to operate and his horizons were limitless!
The young Hearst spent a year at Harvard before dropping out; he toured Europe wooing and winning several fair maidens. He was eclectic in his female tastes enjoying the company of showgirls and ladies from the working classes. He married Millicent who came from show business; later in life he would have a long affair with Hollywood star Marion Davies. Hearst did not smoke, drink or spend his days in slothful ease. He was a workaholic who loved nothing more than operating a newspaper!
This fine book by Canadian journalist Kenneth Whyte is a scholarly and sober look at how Hearst brilliantly steered the New York Journal to the top of the Yellow Press heap in the wild days of Gilded Age newspaper wars. Hearst had to duel with Joseph Pulitzer's World and several other New York Paper in the battle to win subscribers in a competitive field. We forget than in those turn of the century days there was no radio or tv. Most people got their news from the daily newspapers. Often there would be several editions published in a single days. Hearst's New York Newspapers sold over one million copies a day. Hearst would later own a large newspaper syndicate owning papers from coast to coast.
Most of the pages in Whyte's biography are devoted to Hearst's paper's coverage of the Spanish American War. He also devotes print to various scandals covered by the paper as well as a detailed analysis of the covereage of the 1896 presidential race between Republican winner William McKinley and the Democrat's candidate the Boy Orator of the Platte William Jennings Bryan. Hearst supported Bryan in a losing cause. His paper was progressive and WRH was a devoted liberal Democrat throughout his long and colorful life. He even served a short term in the US Congress from a California district.
This book presents a fair and objective view of Hearst; clears up misconceptions about yellow journalism and also highlights the careers of several reporters and newspaper owners who were contemporaries of Hearst.
This book ends with Hearst's coverage of the Spanish-American War and is a solid piece of work on the young WRH's genius in making a legendary success in the tough newspaper field of his era.

The Uncrowned King
This is the best biography ever of William Randolph Hearst. It is top-notch history of journalism in the last half of Nineteenth Century and first half of Twentieth Century. The author is detailed in his close-up of this historical figure. He shows that Hearst was sensational in his approach but not overbearing nor non-factual. He soared as a top publisher of his day.

The King of the Yellow Press
Tyler Cowen remarked offhandedly in his review of The Uncrowned King that it was a revisionist biography of William Randolph Hearst. I would not only disagree but would say that the book's lack of moral judgment is refreshing and helpful.

The book looks exclusively at the 3 years it took Hearst to rise to the top of the New York newspaper market. In the process, he unseated two of the greatest editors in American history, Charles Dana and Joseph Pulitzer. Whyte doesn't excuse the tactics that Hearst employed to get there, rather he explains and contextualizes them. We see that WRH certainly exacerbated the growing tensions in Cuba but no more than any of his colleagues. He had a penchant for running fabricated stories but we forget how regularly he used the paper to drive donations to victims of crime and most memorably, to fund the base of the Statue of Liberty.

In the rush to criticize Hearst's excess, many authors ignore the business acumen that put him in that position. He was no Donald Trump - simply diversifying the family fortune. No, according to Whyte, WRH built a newspaper empire out of sweat and blood and energy. He may have been a rich boy but he was an inspiring leader who knew how to play to the strengths of his strange editors and reporters. It was that skill that let him take a bottom tier newspaper and turn it into the powerhouse of the most competitive city in the world in less than 36 months.

The Uncrowned King is long but rarely drags. It's generally positive but refrains from gushing. Lastly, the author bites his tongue when it comes to modern comparisons and business lessons. The book is simply a chronicle of a great and often under-appreciated American icon.

Brilliant
I echo the other reviews but want to emphasize the lack of bias and in depth research that the author has done. This is not just a book about Hearst, who has been unfairly treated by history, but a book about the rise of newspapers post Civil War with great detail provided about almost all the great figures in the newspaper business from the publishers down through the editors to the reporters and illustrators.

A great read, I couldn't put it down. The full sense of color and excitement of the period is vividly portrayed.

For another brilliant book about the same period read "Big Trouble" by J. Anthony Lukas ... Read more

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Customer Reviews (10)

Loved it
Great book.I loved it all the way until the end...then the tone of the book changed, and I wanted it to stay as it was.Fascinating read.

not so good as all that
The appeal lies in the forceful honesty William Davies King applies to his compulsive collecting of worthless objects - and in the frank interest those worthless collections draw from us just from his writing about them. How interesting can a collection of empty cereal boxes, of "PLACE POSTAGE STAMP HERE" corners of envelopes, of once-rusted now-shined-up metal objects of indeterminate uses, be? (I prefer my modest gathering of rusted objects to remain rusted.)

That King's mid-life attractions to younger women accompany this honest accounting is a sorry disappointment. I easily believe that the resurgence of...desire? instinct? hormones!...that drew him out of his marriage went along with his not-easy exploration of his childhood and the origins of the endless collecting. It's no surprise that this dark memoir of compulsion concludes in the brilliant (unsustainable) sunshine of a new marriage. That's the problem - once the young women enter the story, the outcome is old news. The result is considerably less confidence in his insights, less confidence in *his* confidence in the future.

interesting book
I got this for my husband who is a non-fiction reader only. He is really enjoying this book. Its not just a surface story. I haven't read it yet... waiting patiently until he finishes. :)

Fascinating, wonderful, honest and hitting too close to home!
I LOVED this book from page one.One measure of a book is whether the reader sees some of himself.I saw more than I wanted to!Highly recommended, and now linked to on my blog "Dull Tool Dim Bulb" (which I'm sure the author would enjoy, maybe a bit too much)Fortunately, I learned how to part with "nothings" and keep the good stuff, but it took a while.

Jim Linderman
Dull Tool Dim Bulb

Much Ado About nothing
I picked up this book because it has such wonderful reviews and I was looking for a good memoir to read.

I started Collections on my way home from work (I have an hour and a half commute) and got about 10 pages into the book before I closed it and finished my ride with a few rounds of Bejeweled on my cell phone.

I tried again to get into the book and I just couldn't. It is a lot to do about nothing, which in the case of things like Seinfeld and The Northern Clemency really works but in this book falls short and comes off as whiny.

I see that this book has not gotten a rating lower then 4, but I really thought I should get another perspective out there, because I was really disappointed and incredibly bored.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Earlier version of KING WILLIAM IV: FIRST ENGLISH KING IN AMERICA
This paperback of Ziegler's biography of William Guelf, King William IV, is an earlier paperback issue of Ziegler's original 1971 publication. I purchased it to compare to the hardback of 1973, KING WILLIAM IV: FIRST ENGLISH KING IN AMERICA, because that book (see my review) was expanded by Ziegler to include King William's American Revolutionary years as Midshipman William Guelf, Duke of Clarence.

It's excellent and I cannot recommend it enough, for learning about this king, uncle and predecessor of Queen Victoria. Exciting, but I'd stick with the abovementioned book rather than waste time reading this original edition--one that apparently did not satisfy Ziegler enough. I deduct one star for that scholastic uncertainty.

William IV was a honest and good king
This book was excellent.I have been an amateur student of the Hanover era of the British monarchy and there are many books out there on the Great King George III or the Bad King George IV.There are numerous books on Queen Victoria and the Era she heralded, but there is little on King William IV, son of George III, younger brother and heir of George IV and previous monarch of his niece Queen Victoria.King William saw England through only 7 years but in that seven years he saw a lot of changes in parliament and help begin restoring the faith of the British in their monarchy that was lost during the reign of George IV.Mr. Ziegler does a wonderful job of showing William's private life and the trials he endured from his time in the Navy, to life with Mrs. Jordan and their 10 children, to his finding proper wife and becoming King.A great story of a good man. ... Read more

Product Description
Part of "The New Penguin Shakespeare" series, this text looks at "King Lear" with an introduction, a list of further reading, commentary and a short account of the textual problems of the play. The series is used and recommended by the Royal Shakespeare Company. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (59)

King Lear Easy Version
This is a good book if you need to have a quick review and understanding of King Lear.If you are hard up of time (exams due soon or deadline for assignment..) and you haven't even got to reading the actual shakespearean verson, then I suggest you read the Easy version for a quick understanding of the play and it might just help you to get through the assignment or the exams.For real desperate students, this is a great help. But if you can, don't just read the easy version as you will miss out the beauty of Shakespeare use of language.....

King Lear
The book I ordered was for a World Lit class. I was afraid it wouldn't make it to me in time, but I received it a considerable amount of time before it was due. The condition of it was better than expected and it was a good read.

One of the Finest Plays Ever Written
I read King Lear after a long gap since my last reading of Shakespeare--in college.It was recommended by a former professor, David Allen White, as his favorite of Shakespeare's plays.I was not disappointed and found the play to be very compelling.For a novice, the play was a quick read, probably because the action and the characters were so interesting.This is one I'll probably have to read again in order to truly grasp its meaning and beauty.Since most high school and college students don't go beyond Macbeth, Hamlet, or Romeo and Juliet, I would highly recommend King Lear as a continuation of that introduction to Shakespeare.

His greatest triumph!
King Lear is the most devastating, and most powerful, piece in the cannon of Shakespeare. The characters in this play span the spectrum of human behavior and yet Shakespeare creates in each of them a reality that is hard to reject, even when their actions are most disturbing.
Despite the nihilism of the piece I never feel that Shakespeare is negating human existence, but rather, encouraging his audience to embrace the human experience in all its splendor and squalor. He has the blinded (and formerly suicidal) Gloucester say "You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me; let not my worser spirit tempt me again to die before you please." Gloucester has realized there are forces larger then us that "shape our ends" and that being fully human means to absorb the good and the bad.
In the characters of Edgar and Cordelia Shakespeare creates the stereotypical "good child." However, he also endows both creations with an otherworldly kindness towards their fathers that speaks to our better natures. The way that both children nurse their disturbed fathers back to health is a lesson in humility and forgiveness.
The villains in this text are the classical villains, from which all other villains flow, and the many subplots combine in a delicious web of deceit and destruction that ensnares in its web the very spiders that spun it.
However, the ultimate beauty in King Lear is in the power of redemption. When Lear begs the forgiveness of the daughter he has truly wronged, she responds with "No cause." We have all hurt someone we love, and who among us would not like to be absolved by those powerful words, "No cause"?
Lear's redemption and forgiveness is our own.

A Classroom Success Story
The Cambridge School Shakespeare series offers great classroom activities for teachers.They are useful to both theatre and English classes, as they really help students to understand and enjoy the material.King Lear is always my favorite, but the entire series is equally useful. ... Read more

Product Description
This scarce antiquarian book is a selection from Kessinger Publishings Legacy Reprint Series. Due to its age, it may contain imperfections such as marks, notations, marginalia and flawed pages. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment to protecting, preserving, and promoting the worlds literature. Kessinger Publishing is the place to find hundreds of thousands of rare and hard-to-find books with something of interest for everyone! ... Read more

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Prince William of Wales has captured the hearts and hopes of people all around the world. Find out why in this engaging, full-color account that traces his life from his much-anticipated birth to the tragic death of his beloved mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, and his ever-growing popularity as the future king of England. 50 color photos. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Bravo, Buskin. Bravo, Willy. Bravo, Publications Int'l
I live in England but, do you know, I've never followed the activities of the royal family. It's not always something special when you've grown up with it all your life, and they've done much to let themselves down in the past 20 years, the poor souls. So I've never followed Prince William and, really, know nothing about him. That is, I didn't until I read this book. I was at O'Hare airport in Chicago, flying back to England, when I saw it in at the bookstall. Something made me take it off the shelf - I've no idea to this day why - and it caught my interest as I flicked idly through the pages. I immediately liked the writing style - it's very descriptive, but not too much: it's artfully done. Why, for just a few bucks I got to learn more, much more than I ever thought I'd want to know about William. But I enjoyed it! It's quite a rollercoaster story, and an amusing though pretty accurate insight into British life and culture, written by one who should know - The author biography says that Mr Buskin "is a British journalist". It shows. (It also says that another of his books, about Princess Diana, was a New York Times bestseller. That must be one heck of a book - I'm already looking out for a copy.) I think Buskin must be a pretty savvy guy, and he certainly writes a witty line reminiscent of the British Carry On films. For example, I think he had tongue firmly in cheek when he wrote: "And so the stage was set: His naughtiness was about to evolve into Dreamboat Willy."

This book is written for all ages.
The author promises to let the reader know:" Why William was know as 'Billy the Basher,' How he coped with his parents' troubled marriage, What he does for fun and excitement, Why his former nanny is now hisclosest friend, and How he feels about being popular with girls all overthe world."Richard Buskin does accomplished these things.However,if one has kept up with the Royal Family, then, one know everything in thebook and much more.Princes William possesses many more nicknames thanjust 'Billy the Basher.'

Despite this, the book is well-written which onecan not say about many of the books written about Prince William.Thisbook can be appreciated by adults and not just gushing teenagers who arecrazy over Prince William.It's easy reading and can be easily read in anhour.

Richard Buskin has written several books about theRoyal Family -Diana in particular.

Prince William has had to grow up rapidlyconsidering the events which have taken place in his life.As everyoneknows, the world is on the verge of a new millennium, and for William, thetwenty-first century king, it appears to be there for the taking.Thereare many picture of Prince William from infancy to the present; however,there are no new ones.

Since the death of his mother, the late Diana,Princess of Wales, Prince William has grown into a mature young man, andwhatever the future holds, the eyes of the world will certainly be onPrince William.

This is a paperback book which contains 159 pages andmeasures 4x63/4 inches. ... Read more

Product Description
In this tragic play, Lear, a ruler in pre-Christian Britain, is described as a very foolish old man, fourscore and upward." Grossly misjudging his daughters, he endures a harrowing experience and emerges as a man "more sinned against than sinning."

The CliffsComplete King Lear is a revised and expanded study edition. It contains Shakespeare's original play, a glossary, and expert commentary in a unique, 2-column format. To enhance your learning, notes and definitions appear directly opposite the line in which they occur, and a review section follows the play. This edition also introduces you to the life, works, and times of William Shakespeare." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Perfect!

Came in fast, and a really great price. I really needed this desperately, and I ended up getting it. Thank You!

Great learning tool!
We are currently using this book in my AP English class. The commentary that follows each scene is very helpful in analyzing the sometimes confusing language of Shakespeare. Also, there is a lot of extra room for writing and annotating King Lear. For anyone in need of a copy of King Lear, and plans on writing in it while you arereading, I strongly recommend this Cliff's Complete version of King Lear.

Trying to Fathom King Lear
I find Shakespeare very difficult and "Cliff's Complete" is a tremendous help!!Cliff's Complete should be available for all of Shakespeare and not just a few plays.Amazingly, it is the only such guide that I've found.It astounds me that it stands so alone when so many students and readers have so much difficulty with Shakespeare.

The introducton material is good re Shakespeare and Elizabethean England.

The Character Map is good, but it isn't as clear as it could be.It lacks a complete list of characters, and some minor characters are left out and appear out of the blue.An entire introductory section on characters should be considered.Descriptions about the characters, their roles, relationships and meanings would also be helpful to someone like me.

The brief introduction to each scene is excellent and very helpful.

The Commentaries are excellent and very helpful.I've used Cliff's Complete before, and choose to read the Commentary before each Scene instead of after.That might be suggested to the reader in a short guide.

The running notes could and should be done better.The numbered line references for the running notes are very helpful.It would be even more helpful if an italic or something like an asterisk for the noted item referred to the note even more directly.Many more such notes would also be more helpful given the very difficult language and terms, and the reader could choose whether or not to bother with more such notes.Also, notes of more importance could be done in a bolder type. Running the notes along the side of the script is excellent and makes reference easier and more seamless than at the bottom of the page or at the end. Unfortunately, the notes are on a light blue background and in small blue typeset both of which make it harder to read for an old guy like me.

Despite these comments, this is an indespensible help as I prepare to see a performance.Thank you, Wiley Publishing and the authors and editors!

Victor Ostrower

Very good
I really think this version is clear and useful to students discovering Lear for the first time.For advanced Lear information, one would be wise to look elsewhere. ... Read more

Product Description
This Norton Critical Edition is based on the Folio text of King Lear(carefully corrected priorto its printing in 1623). The editor has interpolated the best-known andmost-often discussedpassages from Quarto I (including the “mock-trial” scene) as is fully explainedin both “A Note on the Text” and the annotationsthat accompany the play.“Sources” helps readersnavigate King Lear’s rich history andincludes the nine essentialprimary sources fromwhichShakespeare borrowed significantly increating his play, along with twoadditional likelysources.

“Criticism”provides thirteenmajor critical interpretations and three provocative adaptations andresponses to KingLear. Critical interpretation is providedby Samuel Johnson, CharlesLamb, Peter Brook, Michael Warren, Lynda E. Boose, Janet Adelman,and R. A. Foakes, among others. Theadaptationsand responses areby Nahum Tate, John Keats, andEdward Bond.

A Selected Bibliography is also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

AS EVER THE ONE-STOP SOURCE FOR PRIMARY RESEARCH, BUT I LIKE THE OXFORD
Right off the bat, please let me share my preference for the The Oxford Shakespeare: The History of King Lear. Above any other presentation for reading and direct research, nothing for me can top good old Yale Professor Tucker Brooke's conflated edition The Tragedy Of King Lear (The Yale Shakespeare), the best thing ever to emerge from Yale, even considering some recent presidents. I find Brooke's a joy to read and the Oxford wonderful to study, retaining as it does the old format of text at top half of page, a middle strand of variorum and then a bottom third of notes, with the great associated articles and essays, etc.

That said, let us turn to this recent Norton Critical Edition. While the creative, artistic Oxford may resemble driving a Porsche (I do not know as I never have), the Norton is more a utilitarian vehicle: gets the job done and has all of the works. Go to Norton for one stop research.

Please permit one brief return. Professor Tucker Brooke did what nearly every editor has since done, and did it very well, in conflating the Quarto with the Folio editions of Lear, and being straightforward and honest about this, and indicating very well through punctuation and footnotes which section came from which edition.

Lear first emerged early in its writing in a Quarto edition, probably before many performances. The Folio emerged much later, losing 300 lines of the Q. while gaining another one hundred. In the eighteenth century another edition was prepared for performance by Nahum Tate, changing much of the play (Cordelia marries Edgar; France is out!) and tacking on a happy ending. This happier version remained in performance for well over a century, until someone dared play Lear as originally written once again.

Since then the debate has been: which version of Lear to play, Quarto or Folio. The Folio is often supposed to have been altered to honor new censorship laws and to please the new King, who might find offense in Edgar mocking astrology (although Edmund does so quite thoroughly), etc. The sight of a mad King presiding over legal proceedings might also give offense, and so we lose the wonderful "mock trial" scene in the Folio. For a variety of reasons the Quarto was therefore dismissed by scholars as somehow inferior (while containing some of the of the best jokes and lines!) and the Folio preferred.

Professor Brooke did us a great favor therefore in resurrecting the Quarto to its deserved respectability, and conflating it with the Folio, as nearly all editors have since done. Unfortunately for a recent brief spell, the Folio re-emerged as the ONLY authentic version, and so the late recordings done with the great Lear's Paul Scofield and Sir Gielgud were Folio only, most likely to their own great frustration. To miss these wonderful voices in the abbreviated Folio version, and lose their renditions of the mock trial and other Quarto only scenes, is a great loss to the language and to each one of us. In fact, amazon refuses to correct its product page of the Gielgud recording, and insists upon calling it the "abridged" edition. Hear him roar at King Lear (BBC Radio Presents); he is magnificent, if abridged by the Folio.

In any case our editor here at the Norton, Grace Ioppolo of the University of Reading (a most auspicious name), claims strongly for the Folio version, and yet conflates the Quarto, as she explains, in condescension to the public, to us groundlings, as we expect it. Nevertheless, her notes do not explain in every instance when we are seeing Folio only and when we are seeing what only appears in the Quarto. The text page does not list the variorum in a thin band across the lower half, as we come to expect in the Arden or Oxford, but saves all such notes for one incredibly thick and jumbled few pages at the end of the play, impossible to read, as all italic with some bold faced headings included. We see very few footnotes explaining the text, and I have already loaded my margins with marginalia in which I dispute her reading (not her university, her interpretation), although I do find her to come the closest of any editor in interpreting nearly courageously the true implications of "If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold" although immediately she misreads in the same line "care for me." Courageous in the first, she loses heart in the latter.

In brief, we often find it useful to turn to the Norton for primary sources, and indeed we find here several presented in abridged form. We receive just enough for inclusion in term papers, etc., but not the full source. We read very brief snippets from the Mirror for Magistrates, of course, Holinshed, certainly, Spenser, Sir Phlilip Sidney, James VI of Scotland and James the First of England, Samuel Harsnett's A Declaration of Egregious Popish Impostures, and Camden. We are also given a sniff of original documents from the case of Bryan Annesley, but again each of these is so brief as to incite desire to read elsewhere. Such snippets may be of use to the undergraduate desperate for citations (who in any case has the Internet), but not the more leisurely armchair scholar.

The whole history of Lear criticism is seen also in brief glimpses of snippets, from Nahum Tate's preface through Samuel Johnson's Notes, and Charles Lamb and William Hazlitt to more modern criticism, including director Peter Brooks, who filmed and directed Scofield as Lear. Also included are abridgements from Lynda Boose's "Father and Bride in Shakespeare," Janet Adelman's "Suffocating Mothers," Margot Heinemann's "King Lear and the World Upside Down," Foakes's "Hamlet vs. Lear," and Stanley Cavell's "The Avoidance of Love."

A few scenes from adaptations are included, including the Tate version which supplanted for so long Shakespeare's Lear. We find in this section the UNABRIDGED sonnet by John Keats entitled "On Sitting Down to Read King Lear Once Again (a title nearly as long as the Sonnet in the spirit of Deadline Poet Calvin Trillin), whose relationship to the play itself is tenuous at best. Even less related is the few scenes extracted from Edward Bond's 1972 play Lear, from which we, dwelling in the shadow of the international wall imposed against Mexico, may nevertheless read with interest these lines on page 264 of this edition:

"LEAR - I started this wall when I was young. I stopped my enemies in the field, but there was always more of them. How could we ever be free? So I built this wall to keep my enemies out. My people will live behind this wall when I'm dead. You may be governed by fools but you'll always live in peace. My wall will make you free. ( . . .)"

In any case, an interesting introduction, some interesting essays no one may ever read, and all in abridgement, an uninformative lay-out of the play, but a useful text to supplement your Lear shelf in your home library. For main reading, get the Oxford; for reading of the play itself, get the enduring, endearing Professor Tucker Brookes. And on your amazon Wish List be sure to place: King Lear: New Critical Essays (Shakespeare Criticism) and Critical Essays on Shakespeare's King Lear (Critical Essays on British Literature) among the others available here upon the great and mighty amazon.

A Classic I Need Help Appreciating
I read this for my law school Great Books program. I'd wanted to read this as it's a monumental classic, but just never got to it. I give it five stars because who am I to say Shakespeare deserves less. (But I'd much rather read "In Search of Lost Time," "The Tempest" or something like "Paradise Lost."

Now I have. I dragged myself through it. I had no sympathy for Lear. He just drove me to distraction. He was so blind to the relationships and the predictable effects of his own decisions. God help those who had him for a king.

Yet, the essays in the back of the book, helped me appreciate the play as did our first discussion. ... Read more

Product Description
This title has fewer than 24 printed text pages. Noble Redman is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin) Bone is in the English language. If you enjoy the works of Jesse F. (Jesse Franklin) Bone then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection. ... Read more

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Product Description
With new editors who have incorporated the most up-to-date scholarship, this revised Pelican Shakespeare series will be the premiere choice for students, professors, and general readers well into the twenty-first century.

Each volume features:
Authoritative, reliable texts
High quality introductions and notes
New, more readable trade trim size
An essay on the theatrical world of Shakespeare and essays on Shakespeare's life and the selection of texts ... Read more

Product Description
King Lear divides his kingdom between his three daughters, basing the portions, so he believes, on the depth of their love for him. This profoundly moving, nihilistic drama is one of Shakespeare's mightiest achievements and one of the greatest tragedies in world literature. Performed by Trevor Peacock, Julia Ford, and the Arkangel Cast. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Surprisingly good
Recently I've gotten hooked on the Arkangel Shakespeare audiobooks because, as fully dramatized, they become entertainment not a scholarly exercise in reading an archaic language.
King Lear was new to me, unlike the others I listened to, so I didn't know whether I could follow the action without any cues to tell me who was speaking. Not to worry, the actors are distinct enough that this wasn't a problem. I didn't know what to expect from the play itself because it was always described as horribly depressing, but, without any visuals, I could get interested in the characters without having any image of Lear carrying his dead daughter on stage.
Anyway, this has become one of my favorites of the Arkangel series. As the kids progress through the plays in school, I will bring out these audiobooks so we can hear 'conversational' Shakespeare to counterbalance what the kids see on the printed page.

King Lear as it was meant to be!
Reading Shakespeare's classic tragedy is one thing, but listening to it performed in such a masterful way is another.This oral production of King Lear brings this play to life in a powerful way.What better way to get through traffic than to be entrenched in the world of treachery, pride and redemption!The actors are magnificient!This is one of my best purchases from Amazon.

The Best recording of the Best tradegy
This is the best performance i have ever heard of this play.Trevor Peacock (Lear) is phanominal.Every time i listen to it i find my self repeating lines back. Its just such a meaningfull play, and it is done to justice.Kent and Edgar are loyal and valliant, glouster and lear are tragic and Edmond is villanous...Its great.

Worth the purchase, even if you dislike tragedy
King Lear has gotten old and wishes now to divide his kingdom among his three daughters. The better praise they give him, the more they receive. With the exile of Lear's youngest daughter, Cordelia, Lear begins to experience the vices of his remaining daughters first-hand, as well as the greed of the illegitamite son of his friend, Glouchester.

The cast was well chosen for this production, although it's heavy-handedness makes for some slow and quieter performances. Samantha Bond shines as the virtueous Cordelia and David Tennant gives a fantastic, if not somewhat subdued performance, as Edgar and Poor Tom. The music between each new scene and act can be a little tiresome, but overall, the production is a well-collaborated one.

I do not favor tragedies as a rule, but I do recommend this play to someone who finds them appealing or wishes to have a well-rounded understanding of Shakespeare's plays.

King Lear
This recording is remarkably effective as a piece of theatre.Well-cast, well acted, well conceived. ... Read more