Bővebb ismertető
INTRODUCTION
i. the date of the play
The date in which King Richard III was written can be ascertained with less difficulty than is the case with many of Shakespeare's plays. It was first printed in Quarto in 1597, but without his name being on the title-page; and seven reprints in Quarto form, with the important addition of his name, appeared at various dates between 1598 and 1634. Thus, from the First Quarto, which was entered at Stationers' Hall, October 20, 1597, we know that the play was written not later than that date; and the fact that the succeeding Quarto editions bear his name would remove all doubt, if there were any, as to who was the author. The play is also included in the collected edition of his works, published in Folio in 1623, seven years after his death. The texts of the play as given in the First Quarto and First Folio editions vary very considerably; and it is one of the most difficult critical problems in Shakespearian scholarship to determine which is the more genuine. However, as the main structure of the play is in no way affected by these for the most part trifling discrepancies, there is no need to enter farther into the question.
We have two pieces of definite evidence: that the play is Shakespeare's (being printed with his name in his lifetime), and that it was composed not later than 1597. We can, however, fix the date, with sufficient certainty, even more closely. Shakespeare's plays were part of the stock-in-trade of the theatrical company of which he was a member; and it was to the interest of this company to keep its plays off the boards of rival theatres. It is, therefore, improbable that King Richard III was printed as soon as it was written. Also, in 1594 an old play on the same subject was published: it is supposed to have been revived on account of the brilliant success of Shakespeare's play, and the consequent public interest in its subject-matter.
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