King John

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.0

Word count: 120K words
Chapters: 12

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.King John by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Jul 1, 2000

Editor's review

King John is one of Shakespeare's history plays, drawing on the reign of King John of England and centering on the succession to the throne, ecclesiastical authority, and the conflict between England and France. Compared with more frequently discussed history plays such as Henry IV and Henry V, it treats political legitimacy and national feeling with greater coldness, and it leaves behind vividly drawn characters such as Philip the Bastard. The public-domain electronic text provided by Project Gutenberg makes it easy to search lines and check the original wording, making it suitable for drama students doing close reading and for Shakespeare enthusiasts reading alongside performance recordings. Note that this is the original English text with no stage annotations; readers new to Shakespeare's history plays may be put off by the dense historical figures and political context, so it is advisable to first grasp the basic outline of King John's life and thirteenth-century Anglo-French relations before entering the text.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Shakespeare drama students who need the original text of a history play
Shakespeare enthusiasts who want to read a less frequently staged history play
Researchers in English literature focusing on kingship and legitimacy
Theater practitioners looking for lesser-known Shakespeare material suitable for staging

Not a good fit for

Readers new to Shakespeare who need annotations and introductory guidance
General readers hoping to read a Chinese translation
Casual readers with little interest in medieval English history

Reading tips

Before reading, learn about King John's conflicts with the Church and France during his reign to lower the barrier to understanding.
Read alongside Shakespeare's other history plays to observe continuity and change in the theme of kingship.
Pay attention to Philip the Bastard's lines; he is the key character for understanding the play's perspective of political satire.
If possible, read in sync with stage performance recordings or audio versions.

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 King John a comedy or a history play?

King John is generally classified as one of Shakespeare's history plays, dealing with political issues such as the English succession, ecclesiastical authority, and the Anglo-French war. Although it contains passages of satire and humor, its overall tone is cold and it is not a comedy.

Can I read this directly without having read other Shakespeare history plays?

Yes. King John is relatively independent in plot and does not depend on related series such as Henry IV. However, Shakespeare's history plays feature dense characters and complex political contexts, so it is advisable to read a plot summary or historical background introduction before entering the original text.

Is this edition suitable for stage production use?

The Project Gutenberg edition provides the original play text without detailed stage directions or performance annotations. It can be used as a rehearsal script, but professional productions usually also need to check authoritative editions and supplement stage directions and cuts or revisions.

What background knowledge should I prepare before reading?

It is advisable to understand the early thirteenth-century conflict between England and the Papal Curia, King John's wars with the French royal house, and the basic outline of the succession dispute. This background helps readers understand the political alliances and character motivations in the play.

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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.