King LearKing Lear
Score Classic
What it's about
Old King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, giving the biggest share to whichever says she loves him most. Goneril and Regan flatter him; his favorite, Cordelia, refuses, and he banishes her. Once the two flatterers have power, they turn on him, and Lear is driven out into a storm and into madness. Alongside, the Earl of Gloucester is betrayed by one son and saved by another.
Why it's worth reading
It's on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books and is often called Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, a vision of human cruelty and love.
You'll love it if you liked
Good to know
It's a play, and seeing a production or film helps. Gloucester's blinding is brutal. The ending is devastating.
By the numbers
- Readers28 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics55 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller29 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
Why it made the list
Reads as
Thought-provoking
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Quick answers
Is King Lear worth reading?
Yes. It's on the Bokklubben list of the 100 greatest books and is often called Shakespeare's greatest tragedy, a vision of human cruelty and love. It ranks #1,781 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 65.8 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is King Lear about?
Old King Lear decides to divide his kingdom among his three daughters, giving the biggest share to whichever says she loves him most. Goneril and Regan flatter him; his favorite, Cordelia, refuses, and he banishes her. Once the two flatterers have power, they turn on him, and Lear is driven out into a storm and into madness. Alongside, the Earl of Gloucester is betrayed by one son and saved by another.
How long does it take to read King Lear?
About 7 hours (284 pages), or about 2 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after King Lear?
If you liked it, try Hamlet by William Shakespeare, A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley or Medea by Euripides.