King Richard III is one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently-performed plays. Janis Lull's introduction to this new edition, based on the First Folio, emphasises the play's tragic themes - individual identity, determinism and choice - and stresses the importance of women's roles in the play. It also underscores the special relationship between Richard III and Macbeth, demonstrating that the later tragedy re-examines issues raised in the earlier one. A thorough performance history of stage and film versions of Richard III shows how the text has been cut, rewritten and re-shaped by directors and actors to enhance the role of Richard at the expense of other parts, especially those of the women. The notes define the play's language and ideas in terms easily accessible to contemporary readers.

シェイクスピアが描いたリチャード三世は、運命に抗い自ら悪を選択する強烈な自我の体現者です。本作の核心は、孤独な破滅へと突き進む個人のアイデンティティの探求にあります。後の名作「マクベス」へと通ずる悲劇の萌芽がここにあり、野望の果てに虚無を見つめる魂の叫びは、現代の読者の倫理観を激しく揺さぶります。 映像化では主演の怪演が強調されがちですが、原作の真価は彼を呪う女性たちの重層的な言葉に宿っています。映画等で削られがちな彼女たちの台詞を文字で追うことで、劇が持つ多角的な絶望が鮮明に浮かび上がるでしょう。演出を超えたテキスト特有の深淵に触れるとき、あなたは真の闇の王に出会うはずです。