Plays and drama · Classics
King Lear
An aging king divides his kingdom among his daughters according to their flattery, banishes the honest one, and descends into madness and ruin.
Facts last checked 2026-10-17
- First published
- 1605
- Pace
- Medium
- Length
- Short
- Pages
- 284
- Format
- Standalone
Read this if you want Shakespeare's most devastating tragedy about family and power.
Skip this if you want an easy read, as the language is dense and the tone bleak.
The feel
Content warnings
Quick answers about King Lear
- What is King Lear about?
- An aging king divides his kingdom among his daughters according to their flattery, banishes the honest one, and descends into madness and ruin.
- Who should read King Lear?
- Read it if you want Shakespeare's most devastating tragedy about family and power. Skip it if you want an easy read, as the language is dense and the tone bleak.
- How long and how fast is King Lear?
- It is a medium-paced, short read of about 284 pages, first published in 1605.
- Does King Lear have content warnings?
- Content we flag: Violence, Death, Torture.
- Can I borrow King Lear for free?
- Often, yes. Check Libby (OverDrive) to see whether your library lends King Lear; the borrow button above searches it for you.
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Where to get it
| Store | Price | Link |
|---|---|---|
| Borrow free | ||
| Libby / OverDrive | Free with a library card | Borrow free with Libby from Libby / OverDrive |
| Print, new | ||
| Bookshop.org | Check price | Buy new from Bookshop.org |
| Amazon | Check price | Buy new from Amazon |
| Ebook | ||
| Kobo | Check price | Buy ebook from Kobo |
| Google Play Books | Check price | Buy ebook from Google Play Books |
| Audiobook | ||
| Libro.fm | Check price | Buy audiobook from Libro.fm |
| Audible | Check price | Buy audiobook from Audible |
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