King Lear

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.6

Word count: 147K words
Chapters: 15

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Kuningas Lear by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: Finnish, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Aug 8, 2005

Editor's review

This is a Finnish translation of King Lear, one of Shakespeare's four great tragedies, released free by Project Gutenberg. The play tells the tragic fate of the King of Britain, who, crediting slander and dividing his kingdom between two honey-tongued daughters, is ultimately driven from court and left to wander the wilderness. Its grand structure displays the complex interweaving of power, family, loyalty, and betrayal; the monologues in the storm scene form the spiritual climax of the play, which possesses strong stage tension and literary depth. The Finnish translation offers readers a way to approach Shakespeare's original in another language, and is suitable for readers studying Shakespeare translation and reception, comparative literature, or learning Finnish. As a public-domain eBook, it is easy to search and cite, suitable as a reference text in academic writing, theatre rehearsal, or literature courses, and also for general readers interested in Nordic language and culture to read in comparison.

Who it's for

A good fit for

University teachers and students studying Shakespeare translation and comparative literature
Readers learning Finnish who wish to engage with classic literary texts
Theatre enthusiasts or troupe members, for rehearsal and textual analysis
Deep readers interested in tragic art and the ethics of power

Not a good fit for

General readers with no Finnish reading ability and no parallel translation
Those who prefer light entertainment and do not wish to face a heavy tragic ending
Beginners who only need an English-Chinese bilingual edition for introductory reading

Reading tips

First learn the plot summary of King Lear before entering the Finnish text to reduce comprehension barriers.
Focus on the storm scene and Lear's monologues to appreciate the tragic emotion and language rhythm.
If used for academic citation, compare with the English original or other translations to verify key lines.
Read act by act and take notes, combining knowledge of Shakespeare's era and dramatic structure.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Is this Finnish King Lear suitable for people who do not know Finnish?

Not very suitable. The main text is entirely in Finnish, and readers without Finnish will struggle to understand plot details. If you only want to know the story, choose an English-Chinese or other Chinese translation; if for language learning or version study, use it in comparison with the English original.

What are the practical features of the Gutenberg edition?

The Gutenberg edition is a free public-domain eBook, easy to download, search, and cite, suitable for academic reference and course use. However, the layout is plain and usually lacks detailed notes or an introduction, so readers may need to supplement background materials.

What preparation is needed before reading this tragedy?

It is advisable to first learn the plot summary and main character relationships, and to acquire some knowledge of common themes and dramatic structure in Shakespearean tragedy. This way, when reading the Finnish text, you can focus more on language expression and emotional progression without being interrupted by plot obstacles.

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About the author

William Shakespeare Author · English · 1564–1616

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the greatest playwright, poet and actor of the English Renaissance. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he is known as the "Bard of Avon." He wrote roughly thirty-seven to thirty-nine plays, one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and narrative poems. His representative works include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. His works span tragedy, comedy and history play, distinguished by rich, poetic language and profound characterization. His explorations of human nature, power, love and fate have had a lasting influence, and his works have been translated into many languages and circulated widely around the world.