The Oxford Shakespeare: King John

The Oxford Shakespeare is an admirably scholarly edition, immaculately presented, offering close attention to possibilities of staging as well as meaning.'Dr D. Sedge, Exeter University

• Introduction. Date and sources. The text: early records; copy for "King John" in the folio; act and scene division; revision. "King John" - a critical introduction: political language and the language of "King John"; Wills and the Crown of England; monarchs, parents and the bastard; patterns of action in "King John". "King John" in the theatre: early stage history; the text in the theatre; theatrical reputation and stage history. Editorial procedures. Abbreviations and references. "The Life and Death of King John". Appendices: A - speech-prefixes in act 2; B - "care" (4.2.117); C - "an angel spake" (5.2.64); D - lineation and speech assignments, 5.6.1-6; E - 5.7.117-18. Index.