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Richard III

William Shakespeare

  • Drama
  • Book language: English
  • 231 pages

Richard III is a historical tragedy by William Shakespeare. It follows Richard, Duke of Gloucester, as he schemes and manipulates his way toward the English crown amid court intrigue and conflict. It is worth listening to for its sharp language, memorable characters, and study of ambition and power.

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Text source: standardebooks.org · The work is in the public domain.

Opening of the book

Dramatis Personae

King Edward the Fourth

Edward, Prince of Wales, afterwards King Edward V, son to the

King

Richard, Duke of York, son to the King

George, Duke of Clarence, brother to the King

Richard, Duke of Gloucester, afterwards King Richard III, brother to the King

A young son of Clarence

Henry, Earl of Richmond, afterwards King Henry VII

Cardinal Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury

Thomas Rotherham, Archbishop of York

John Morton, Bishop of Ely

Duke of Buckingham

Duke of Norfolk

Earl of Surrey, his son

Earl Rivers, brother to Elizabeth

Marquis of Dorset and Lord Grey, sons to Elizabeth

Earl of Oxford

Lord Hastings

Lord Stanley, called also Earl of Derby

Lord Lovel

Sir Thomas Vaughan

Sir Richard Ratcliff

Sir William Catesby

Sir James Tyrrel

Sir James Blount

Sir Walter Herbert

Sir Robert Brakenbury, Lieutenant of the Tower

Christopher Urswick, priest

Another priest

Tressel and Berkeley, gentlemen attending on the Lady Anne

Lord Mayor of London. Sheriff of Wiltshire

Elizabeth, queen to King Edward IV

Margaret, widow of King Henry VI

Duchess of York, mother to King Edward IV

Lady Anne, widow of Edward Prince of Wales, son to King Henry

VI; afterwards married to Richard

A young daughter of Clarence (Margaret Plantagenet)

Ghosts of those murdered by Richard III, lords and other attendants; a pursuivant, scrivener, citizens, murderers, messengers, soldiers, etc.

Scene: England.

Act I
Scene I
London. A street.
(Enter RICHARD, DUKE OF GLOUCESTER, solus.)

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