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Richard III | William Shakespeare

#Alphabetgame #LetterR @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Shakespeare‘s cycle of English kings are definitely not my favorites of his, except R3. I love awful Richard and his dialogues with the audience.

Other Rs that I adore:
- Radioactive-Lauen Redniss (fantastic GN)
- Religion and the Decline of Magic-Keith Thomas
- A River Runs Through It-Normal Maclean (an old favorite)
- Running After Antelope-Scott Carrier* (see comment.)

Graywacke Running After Antelope is an odd, semi-poetic, interior head problem late 1990‘s mindset novel (pub 2001). It had some life on NPR‘s This American Life, where I discovered and got attached to it. But I have not come across any readers elsewhere since. It‘s absolutely terrific of you like that kind of thing.

Running After Antelope

(edited) 2y

rabbitprincess Excellent choice of actor photo for this one 😍 2y

KathyWheeler Richard III is one of my favorite Shakespeare plays. 2y

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vivastory IMO Richard II is one of his more underrated plays. I love the Henriad, esp. those featuring Falstaff. I have been meaning to read the War of the Roses tetralogy. Once I do so I will def watch Hollow Crown series 2. The first series remains to this day one of my fave Shakespeare adaptations. 2y

Liz_M Dick III is my favorite bad guy! 2y

Graywacke @rabbitprincess he does everything so well. 🙂 2y

Graywacke @KathyWheeler @Liz_M some bad guys are just fantastic 😁 2y

Graywacke @vivastory I haven‘t read R2 yet. Falstaff is crazy. I would like to see a performance so i can appreciate him more. I didn‘t like reading h5 much, and yet it‘s the one I think about the most, besides R3. 2y

vivastory I loathed the ending of H5, but I actually have a conspiratorial crackpot theory about the Henriad 🙃 2y

Graywacke @vivastory not just a theory, but a conspiratorial crackpot one. I‘m curious. 2y

vivastory Lol. Again, disclaimer: this is 100% a conspiratorial crackpot theory. My theory is that the secret hero of the Henriad is NOT Prince Hal, but rather Falstaff & Prince Hal is the ambitious villain who banishes Falstaff & eventually kills his true friend. 2y

Graywacke @vivastory No, you‘re definitely on to something there. (You have me waxing thoughts - the psychology in there. 🙂 The unflattering idea of murdering one‘s impractical youthful fanciful (if morally reproachable) self to acquiesce oneself to the hard heartless practical needs of life. Henry‘s relationship with Falstaff is really quite disconcerting, both in embracing the temptations, and later skewering the partner in them. I better stop myself her 2y

vivastory I DO think that Prince Hal is portrayed as the hero at the end of H5, but it feels like an uneasy portrayal to me due to the coldblooded ambition of it. I can't help but think that Shakespeare had something else up his sleeve. At least a little. 2y

batsy @vivastory I'm on board with this theory! I couldn't quite put my finger on it when I read it but I think this is what I was leaning toward. I definitely need to re-read this at some point. 2y

vivastory @batsy I was *just* about to tag you to ask you to weigh in & see if I was crazy or not 😂 I have found a couple of articles that actually kind of back up the same idea online. Like you I would be interested to revisit it. 2y

Graywacke @vivastory @batsy WS begs us to search for subtexts. (I have more plays to read before I revisit. 🙂) 2y

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Richard III | William Shakespeare

#12Booksof2021
#June was my best month of reading. I hit a stretch where everything was terrific - all after finishing the long The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel and a good audiobook on Thomas Cromwell. I read Pnin, my favorite Nabokov, The Book of Not by Tsitsi Dangarembga and Hot Milk by Deborah Levy, while listening to Begin Again, on James Baldwin. And with the #shakespearereadalong I read Richard III, now a favorite Shakespeare.

Graywacke My full June list:
Alexander's Bridge by Willa Cather
The Mirror & the Light by Hilary Mantel
Thomas Cromwell: A Revolutionary Life by Diarmaid MacCulloch 🎧
Pnin by Vladimir Nabokov
Richard III
The Book of Not by Tsitsi Dangarembga
Begin Again: James Baldwin's America and Its Urgent Lessons for Our Own by Eddie S. Glaude jr. 🎧
Hot Milk by Deborah Levy (edited) 3y

SRWCF Love that artwork! 3y

batsy That's a terrific reading month. 3y

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Graywacke @SRWCF i had fun searching vintage posters. ☺️ 3y

Graywacke @batsy thanks. I was in the zone. 🙂 3y

SRWCF @Graywacke makes me want to break out my Shakespeare book! 3y

Graywacke @SRWCF well - are you following #shakespearereadalong ? We start The Two Men from Verona next week.🙂 3y

SRWCF @Graywacke No, I am not following that #. Thanks for the heads up - I will definitely check it out! 3y

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merelybookish, GingerAntics

Richard III | William Shakespeare

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I don‘t think this bard was at his best with his history plays*, with the exception of this brilliant groundbreaking thing. What happened? Our murdering villain confides in us, opening his empty heart, generating a real stage-audience bond. Act I is riveting and funny and wonderful and this is easily one of my favorites from our #shakespearereadalong

*with all due respect to Falstaff

Leftcoastzen 😻 3y

GingerAntics Same! There was just something about this play. This is by far his best history play (there are two left so I suppose that could change I suppose, but I‘m not holding my breath). It was such a fun read, plus there was all the extra background reading/research/documentary watching of the actual history, that this one was so much fun. 3y

merelybookish Kitty approves! 3y

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Graywacke @merelybookish kitty wants to be R3. (I tried to capture him biting the book, but he was too quick for me). 3y

Graywacke @GingerAntics it was so fun. Agree. I limited my dive to your links, but that was all oddball fun trivia too. R3 in the parking lot… 3y

Graywacke @Leftcoastzen thanks. He‘s at his cutest with white paws out front. 3y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics @Graywacke this is my favorite WS history play, too! I love the whole cycle from H6 to R3, though. Thanks for hosting the discussion! 3y

LitStephanie His heart's not empty. It's full of lots of things. 3y

Graywacke @LitStephanie hmm. Tell some more. What are you thinking? (edited) 3y

LitStephanie @Graywacke he has a lot of resentment and ambition. 🤣 He also clearly has conflicted feelings about his mother. Not a passionate man, though. I think it is interesting how even tempered he is. Even when he seems to have angry outbursts, they are always calculated. He only really gets upset if he feels his life is threatened. 3y

Graywacke @LitStephanie completely agree with all that. Textbook sociopath? I‘m on the fence with the heart 🙂 3y

LitStephanie Definitely textbook sociopath! 3y

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batsy

Richard III | William Shakespeare

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Dark, wicked, & psychologically-complex. It's quite obvious how this was written to be a propaganda tool, but at the same time you see that Shakespeare himself seems to have been seduced by the idea of Richard that he had in his mind. Richard exists as a person, stealing all of the best lines, & the dude who brings peace & joy at the end, to "unite the White rose and the Red", is just some dude giving a platitudinous TED Talk. (I forget his name.)

DivineDiana Great review! 4y

batsy #ShakespeareReadAlong @GingerAntics 4y

batsy @DivineDiana Thank you! 🙂 4y

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Graywacke Yeah, who is that dude? Fun review and group read. 4y

Centique I‘ve just been listening to the BBC HistoryExtra series about the Princes in the Tower with a bit of reference to this play! Apparently there are very fervent conspiracy theorists who blame Shakespeare almost solely for Richard‘s bad reputation. It‘s a good short series 👍 (edited) 4y

batsy @Graywacke 😆 And yes, fun discussion as always! 3y

batsy @Centique Ooh that sounds good! I'm going to look it up. And I can understand why they'd blame Shakespeare; he has crafted a particular persona for Richard that's very captivating but hard to shake off. 3y

LitStephanie Strong agree on the dude at the end. Ted Talk platitudes! 🤣🤣🤣 3y

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The Tragedy of King Richard III | William Shakespeare

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A plucky, upstart younger son follows his dream to become king, overcoming obstacles* like living brothers and nephews with single-minded determination, wit, and rapacious ambition. His rise and fall, with many adventures and plots along the way, is brilliantly penned by Shakespeare. Richard is the king you love to hate.

LitStephanie #shakespearereadalong 4y

LitStephanie *other obstacles overcome by the hard-working Richard include several cronies, a wife, an anointed king, an anointed king's son, and assorted relatives of a sister in law. 4y

Graywacke Gotta overcome. 🙂 ⚔️ 🩸 4y

LitStephanie @Graywacke 🤣 3y

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King Richard the Third | William Shakespeare

I have always been fascinated by Richard's relationship with his mother. He murders one brother, murders four nephews, and murders his own wife. But he always speaks in gentle gratitude to his mother, even when she curses him and says she wished he had never been born. He is clearly afraid of her. Maybe he hoped he would finally impress her by becoming king? #shakespearereadalong

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

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This play really got me interested in the real Richard III for the first time. Clearly this is Tudor propaganda and in no way historical fact (just like all the other history plays). The play itself has a very interesting Richard III who always thinks several steps ahead and every move is strategic in one way or another. 👇🏻👇🏻👇🏻

GingerAntics The Richard of this play really doesn‘t make a misstep in his plan until the Battle of Bosworth. This is probably the best play in its tetralogy. I also quite liked this pelican edition. I‘ll definitely read pelican Shakespeare again. #Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

So, we‘ve made it to the end. Richard is dead at the hands of Henry Tudor. Some shady things were done to “abuse his corpse” on the way to the black friars (scientists who looked at his skeleton said that there was a cut in the hip bone that was inflicted right before but likely after death that came “from the back, near the midline”…a rather nice way to say his corpse was violated with a dagger). Any finally thoughts?

GingerAntics #Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong @readinginthedark @batsy @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie @Sunraven @Trashcanman @IamIamIam @ladyneverwhere @MoonWitch94 @catebutler @CoffeeNBooks @jewright @saresmoore @rabbitprincess @Balibee146 @kathedron @Mtroiano @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MrsMalaprop @Gezemice @cuilin 4y

GingerAntics @Melismatic @Sace @teainthelibrary @Susannah @kristenm @slategreyskies @Panic70 @Carolyn11215 @Alliterati @Kristy_K @Liz_M @Daisey @mhillis @Wife @wanderinglynn @Jess_Read_This @Linsy @MellieAntoinette @Yoshi-and-a-book @mollyrotondo @greenreads @LitStephanie 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa Maybe at that point they wanted to ensure he was dead…. Or he was dying so one of his own stabbed him in the back, et tu Brute style? 4y

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Graywacke I feel like the heart of this play was in act 1 when Richard conspires with us. Afterwards we are left mostly at a distance and, to an extent, let the plot play out. The ghosts were cool though. … and when did Anne die? 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke I agree the first part was amazing!!! Annie died a few months before Richard. I can‘t remember of what .. 4y

TheBookHippie I enjoyed the first part I really enjoyed all my research of Richard. I do think this was political and a statement for sure by Shakespeare at the time. It‘s all well written and amazingly interesting that here we are STILL discussing it and still mystery surrounds truth! 4y

TheBookHippie @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Could be … 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke The ghosts were amazing. I‘d like to see that staged! And I had the same question about Anne‘s death. It wasn‘t mentioned in the play, or did I miss it? 4y

Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie This was my favorite of the tetralogy. It‘s the best written overall and has some amazing speeches! 4y

TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat It is my favorite as well. I don‘t think they mentioned Anne in the play in real life she died a few months before him.. that and it‘s believed they loved each other truly🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y

Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie Well, whatever else you can say about Richard, he was probably very charismatic or he wouldn‘t have been successful at taking the crown. 4y

TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat I agree. 4y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie maybe the presence of her ghost is intended to shock us and make us wonder. ?? 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Maybe. Or maybe it was one of those things that his contemporaries just knew so he didn‘t feel the need to show it? 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke Probably. She had more to say 😳 4y

batsy I really enjoyed the ghost parade, as well. And Richard's soliloquy after that! Whew. That was some intense self-psychoanalysis that felt modern (I know I always keep saying this about Shakespeare's plays 😆). A bit like reading Dostoyevsky, that whole scene. 4y

Graywacke @batsy @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie - so, was Scrooge Dicken‘s version of R3? 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke BRILLIANT !!!! I now need to read/watch it… 4y

TheBookHippie @batsy YES!!! Dostoyevsky ! It is modern, as in nothing changes !!! 😝 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke 😂 4y

Lcsmcat @batsy Which is why they‘re classics. Human nature just doesn‘t change that much! 4y

Graywacke The son of Clarence have I pent up close,
His daughter meanly have I matched in marriage,
The sons of Edward sleep in Abraham‘s bosom,
And Anne my wife hath bid this world goodnight.
Now, for I know the Breton Richmond aims
At young Elizabeth, my brother‘s daughter,
And by that knot looks proudly on the crown,
To her go I, a jolly thriving wooer. 4y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie - that above is from Act 4, scene, after Richard learns the princes are murdered. That‘s where Anne‘s death is announced. (No clue why it posted with so much white space) (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie everything you said at the beginning. Yes. I couldn‘t say it better. Such a good mystery story. 4y

GingerAntics @Riveted_Reader_Melissa it wasn‘t in the back. It was in the anal region. It was likely after his naked body was flung over the horse and being brought to the black friars. People were beating the body and “abusing” the body. That‘s the word that is often used. They wanted to humiliate the body/his memory as much as possible without harming his face so people knew it was really him. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat this was the best one. There were just so many layers to it. 4y

GingerAntics @batsy the ghost parade was awesome! I think this is where a modern movie version could be really good. They could really make something of this ghost parade. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke @batsy @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie I never would have put R3 and Scrooge together, but that is a really good point. He could be. 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Thanks- I totally missed that. 4y

LitStephanie I love this play. I have seen it performed a couple of times, and the "despair and due" ghost parade is very powerful. It is great how Richard wakes up all fearful from nightmares and Richmond is like "best night's sleep ever! Let's get out there, boys!" 4y

Graywacke @LitStephanie seems like this would be such a fun play to see on stage. 4y

LitStephanie @Graywacke it is wickedly funny. 4y

batsy @TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat Yes, the more things change... 🙃 4y

batsy @Graywacke I like this idea a lot... 😆 4y

batsy @LitStephanie I thought that was hilarious too, how Richmond talked about his night. And like @Graywacke says this must be superb to see live. 4y

LitStephanie I also enjoyed how the ghost parade provided a tidy wrap-up of all the people Richard murdered. I had forgotten some. The children of not one but two brothers. 4y

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Daisey

Richard III | William Shakespeare

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Gandalf joined me in the hammock as I listened to the last act of Richard III this evening. I had set it aside for a few busy weeks and therefore struggled a bit to keep all the characters and their alliances straight when I picked it back up to finish today. Overall, I enjoyed it, but I think this is one I need to reread to truly appreciate.

#ShakespeareReadalong #ArkAngelShakespeare #CatsOfLitsy

JazzFeathers My sister belongs to a theatrical company and this is one of her favourite Shakespeare. I think l should probably read it myself. 4y

Daisey @JazzFeathers I really enjoyed individual parts and it had some great lines. I think watching a good production is probably the best way for me to better understand and keep track of all the characters. (edited) 4y

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Riveted_Reader_Melissa

Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

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I was way behind starting this one, but once I got going I couldn‘t put it down …the banter, the curses, the soliloquies… the women in this one were a powerhouse in their turmoil and pain (even as they had almost no real power) and some of their comebacks when they have nothing left to lose because they have already lost everything were powerful….when all you have left is your biting tongue, sting well.

#ShakespeareReadAlong

CaffeineAndCandy Nice pics 👍🏼 4y

Riveted_Reader_Melissa @CaffeineAndCandy Thanks, it‘s from the Internet of The Tower of London 4y

TheBookHippie I love this one !!! 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

So, the deed is done! Richard has some guy he isn‘t the familiar with kill the princes. Do you buy that he trusted any old guy to kill his nephews? He sure got chewed out by his mother and sister-in-law. Thoughts?
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=VRIDhxFBHWg
This is an interesting little video that addresses the available sources and one theory that the boys may have escaped all together.
#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics @readinginthedark @batsy @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie @Sunraven @Trashcanman @IamIamIam @ladyneverwhere @MoonWitch94 @catebutler @CoffeeNBooks @jewright @saresmoore @rabbitprincess @Balibee146 @kathedron @Mtroiano @Riveted_Reader_Melissa @MrsMalaprop @Gezemice @cuilin 4y

Lcsmcat Thanks for sharing the video. Maybe because I was aware of the mystery I felt that Tyrell‘s monologue seemed like he was rehearsing what to say to Richard, rather than filling the audience in on off-stage events. Not that I expected the boys to show up alive, just that he left a little doubt. 4y

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Lcsmcat My favorite scene was the dueling monologues of the two Queens, though. They got some great lines! 4y

batsy Like @Lcsmcat I loved the scene between the queens. Margaret's advice on how to get to the right level of vengeful was too good. The scenes of Richard continuously getting chewed out for being the Absolute Worst wore a bit thin for me in this Act. Part of his "appeal", one could say, in the earlier Acts was seeing his subterfuge at work. In this one you could see Shakespeare just really hammering home an agenda. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat I‘m so glad that I wasn‘t the only one who felt Tyrell‘s speech was a bit much (especially considering it‘s based off totally fictional “facts” from Moore). I LOVED the Queens. They really got the best lines of this act. They might have the best lines throughout the play. 4y

GingerAntics @batsy Shakespeare certainly has an agenda here. Seeing that he used Tudor source material and lived under a Tudor monarch, it‘s to be expected. Best to keep the powers that be happy so as not to lose one‘s head. 4y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat i was intrigued when Tyrell lied to Richard and said he had seen them dead when he had hired his own thugs. 4y

Graywacke @batsy I‘m wondering if the Act 3 theme is R3 begins to fail. First he is all powerful. Anne implies she was actually taken in (!) and has a little of an innuendo. Then Buckingham is disposed, not needed and the princes are erased. But …Stanley is not true to him, invasion is at foot. And now he can‘t win over Elizabeth, who sees through him. He is reduced to a arguing a soulless math. Anyway…an iffy alternate perspective on the talk with Queen E. 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics seems like a lot happens here. The act makes an easy summary difficult. But i was always entertained. Great dialogue and mini rants and whatnot. 4y

batsy @Graywacke Yes, it's beginning to become quite shaky for our Richie. That's a key part of the tension in the story, but felt like Shakespeare kind of indulged himself just a little too much in how he depicted the beginning of Richard's fall. Shakespeare allowed his inner Margaret full freedom in the amount of insults hurled Richard's way 😆 (fitting given the story, but on the level of this play being political agenda it's also interesting) 4y

Graywacke @batsy “his inner Margaret”! 🙂 4y

Lcsmcat @batsy I love that phrase “inner Margaret.” I may steal it for personal use. Like “don‘t awaken my inner Margaret!” 😂 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke it really is hard to actually summarise this act. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat 😂🤣😂 4y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat oh my… i love that. 4y

TheBookHippie “ my inner Margaret” is now part of my vocabulary 4y

TheBookHippie I loved the dialog here. This play has intrigued me more than others 😳 what does that say about me 🤣 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I think the history of the actually events depicted in this play and the mythology around those events, including this play itself, are really intriguing. I think it‘s a great exercise in critical thinking? Are you going to buy into the propaganda of the play? Are you going to buy into the propaganda of the Richard III society? Are you going to admit no one really knows?! 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I think people who knew the truth didn‘t pass it down so we‘d know 🤣. Lots of propaganda and politicizing of his life ultimately who knows a lot of times truth is stranger than fiction but in this case 🤷🏻‍♀️Its fun to try to figure out😂 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it‘s really interesting that after his death there is ZERO talk of him killing his nephews. Their mother comes out of sanctuary after their supposed murders and never asks about them or makes a fuss. There is nothing until decades after his death. Why wouldn‘t H7 come out immediately, ‘I killed the guy who killed Edward V and Richard of York?” He never did, which makes it highly suspicious to me. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie there is a compelling theory that EV and possibly his brother got sick and died. There is another compelling theory that R3 had them declared illegitimate, so they were no threat to him. They could be reinstated (relegitimised) after R3‘s death, but that was a threat to H7 who needed their sisters relegitimised to make his claim to the thrown legitimate. So who really gained from their death in that case? So many possibilities. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I agree. It‘s highly suspicious ! 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie there are so many good points and so many possibilities. R3 is just one of many options. I think H7 is equally likely. It‘s just so interesting, and we‘ll never know. So theories will continue to float around. If I had a time machine, I might go find out who killed the princes…then Jack the Ripper… then the Zodiac Killer… I‘d go catch all the bloody killers!!! 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics SAME!!!!!! 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie we seriously need a time machine!!! 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

After the battle that made his brother king, opening the door for him to later become king, the future Richard III made sure requiem masses were said for the dead of both his side of the battle (the Yorkists) and the losing side (the Lancastrians). He did bad things in his life, but he also did good things like this. He was trying (at that point) to bring his country together. He was, in fact, a devoutly religious man. #RichardIII #BattleOfTowton

GingerAntics @Graywacke just read this in an interview with the cardinal that said a mass for Richard the week he was reinterred in Leicester back in 2015. 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics It's an interesting thing. But do we interpret this in terms or politics or personal values? Not sure. Thanks for sharing. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke based on other information, I see it as personal values. I‘m sure there was some political benefit, but that would have been for his brother. At that point, Richard was always going to be the loyal little brother, so it really didn‘t benefit Richard in any meaningful way. 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

The princes have been declared illegitimate and Richard has taken the thrown. What do you guys think?
Also, for those interested, this is the TEDTalk on the finding of Richard‘s remains. It‘s quite amusing and very informative.
https://www.ted.com/talks/dr_turi_king_king_richard_iii_solving_a_500_year_old_c...
#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke So humble this Richard. And…I guess we should be careful saying the word, “if”… 4y

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Graywacke @GingerAntics enjoyed the TED talk. Thanks for that. 4y

batsy My mind is still reeling from how Buckingham & Richard staged the whole thing to get Richard the crown by using reverse psychology to win the people over. (Though I doubt they were won, & all of this was more for the benefit of the power grabbers than the public?) This scene & the boar dream further reminded me more of Julius Caesar. I also enjoyed the very brief Scrivener scene; like the previous scene with the citizens... 4y

batsy Shakespeare uses those brief scenes to show how common people felt about the situation & how they talked about it; the modern day equivalent would probably be like looking at Twitter to gauge public sentiment 😆 4y

TheBookHippie I loved that TED TALK! 4y

TheBookHippie @batsy Twitter assessment 😝 4y

TheBookHippie It is more an intriguing intricate game than I imagined 🤯 this Richard .. 4y

TheBookHippie @batsy Oh you‘re right it is like Julius Caesar.. 4y

Graywacke @batsy on Twitter Richard would have a chance to convince all those orange people … 4y

batsy @Graywacke Pretty much 😭 4y

batsy @TheBookHippie That play has really stuck with me because we read it during our first lockdown over here & everything seemed bleak then (& not much has changed!) 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke 🍊🍊🍊🍊 4y

TheBookHippie @batsy RIGHT?! Oy VEY! 4y

Lcsmcat @batsy Scene 6 was my favorite. “Who is so gross that cannot see this palpable device? Yet who so bold but says he sees it not?” Everyone knows what is going on, but pretend they don‘t for reasons as various as personal safety, hubris, or indolence. 4y

Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie It is fascinating to see what Richard will do next! 4y

TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat EXACTLY EVERYONE KNOWS… kinda like today and some issues 🤯 I am looking forward to the next act. Richard is a different kind of evil. While reading I thought of the original Maleficent. I also love how some people in real life absolutely love him and think he‘s innocent 😳. So relevant it‘s ridiculous …OY. (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie he certainly has a well thought out plan. Obviously it worked, too. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I think I might take Richard over the orange leader. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I think all the documentaries and learning about the real Richard has ruined me for this play. I know I was supposed to see evil in this act, but I just can‘t see Richard as any different than any other king of his time in England. I don‘t think he‘s innocent, but I don‘t think he was any more guilty or viola than than anyone else. 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics This is a tutor propaganda R3 - Tudor version of history. Although I‘m not crazy about the historical R3 either, as far as I know him. 4y

mollyrotondo My favorite part of this Act was young York! He knows what his uncle really is. Yes his mother and grandmother have been talking but little pitchers have big ears always so he has been onto his uncle for a long time. He knows the Tower is a prison. I like reading Richard‘s and Buckingham‘s scheming but this familial quipping and squabbling makes perfect Shakespearean family drama. 4y

GingerAntics @mollyrotondo at this time in history, the tower wasn‘t a prison. It was a castle. It was a family residence. It is where every monarch resided between assuming the thrown and the coronation ceremony. Like many castles, there was a prison in the basement as it were, but that‘s not where they were going at all. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke this is absolute propaganda. R3 isn‘t a saint. I could absolutely never be a member of a Richard III Society. Those people are nuts. But the reality is that he wasn‘t any different from his brother or any other king of that time period. This view that he was a monster among men is the tutor propaganda in a nut shell. He was deeply devout, he was well read which was unusual for that time period. He loved his wife… 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke his funeral arrangements specifically asked that special prayers be said for her in her grief. Prayers that were never said, for that matter. He wanted special prayers said for his children that were also never said. (Someone did say them, in the original Latin, at his reinterment which was nice. 400 years late, but said none the less.) 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke people who actually met him and described him (there are 2 or 3) describe him as having a kind heart. I think we need to look at Richard as a human being outside of what popular history has told us all these years. He probably had his nephews killed. Yes. He had E4‘s wife‘s family executed. Yes. He wasn‘t what we would call a good person, but neither was H4, H5, H6. I‘m far more neutral than I was after learning more about him. 4y

mollyrotondo @GingerAntics I meant the Tower would be their prison. Richard has no intention of letting the Prince and York roam free and try to take their rightful claim to the throne. So it becomes a “prison” of sorts to keep Richard‘s nephews under control. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke E4 was also totally illegitimate, so Richard‘s claim to the thrown was WAY better than his nephews (still doesn‘t justify murder); although, his nephews from his older brother Clarence would have be the rightful heirs. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke he actually legitimised his illegitimate children. He didn‘t have to do that and most people of high status at that time (and honestly, they would now either) didn‘t do that. 4y

GingerAntics @mollyrotondo he may have had that knowledge. In this play, sure. In reality, no. They had free run of the place and even after Richard took the thrown they were seen and heard playing in the garden yard. It would be interesting to be a fly on the wall to see when things really changed for Richard that he finally had them killed. 4y

GingerAntics Interesting fact that I learned just yesterday. Edward V and Richard, Duke of York didn‘t actually know each other very well. They were literally raised separately. They would have gotten to know each other for the first time while in the tower. They really didn‘t have a relationship before that. If nothing else, they had a lovely few months just being brothers at the end there. 🤷🏼‍♀️ (no, I‘m not justifying Richard‘s actions) 4y

GingerAntics Lord now I sound like the bloody Richard III Society of this conversation. 🤦🏼‍♀️😂 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics thanks for all the info on R3. Sounds human, with good and bad in high stakes lethal games. But that last anecdote- that‘s so sad. 🙁 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke right? Apparently that was common at the time, though. The heir would be raised in one location, generally as the only child. He was pretty much the king of his little castle, and he lived with his tutors and advisors. The spare would be raised in another location by himself, much like his older brother. They knew of each other and may exchange letters, but they didn‘t even get together for holidays. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke Each boy was kind of raised in that manner, with any sisters living with the mother. The mother would visit each of her sons, but her sons wouldn‘t really visit each other. Maybe it was a way of “well if this castle gets attacked and taken, that‘s just one link in the line of succession, we have others elsewhere.” I‘m not quite sure. It sounds like a lonely existence. 4y

batsy @Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie Those are great lines! Everyone absolutely knows. And it's interesting to me that Richard and Buckingham's grand kingmaking charades are very much of the same ilk of modern political theatre (televised debates, shouty Parliament sittings, etc.) 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics 😂😂😂we‘re experts now 🏆I do agree this is Tudor propaganda at its best @Graywacke they wanted the version of events they told to be so. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I think I‘ve watched a documentary a night, all week. I‘m still discovering new things about him. I have another documentary queued up for tonight or tomorrow night. 😂🤣😂 Its like I‘m going for a second degree in Richard III. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics reminds me of people thinking I like a certain politician because I definitely do not like the orange one. They‘re all essentially the same, but which can you live with, which besides all that has an actual heart and we‘ve been learning Richard did which is a bit nuts, however it just was, look at the fact the family tree I found says executed killed dead married 🤯 it was a bloody bloody time in history. Shakespeare is good in this. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I read two books on him plus the play this week plus all sorts of documentaries 😂😂 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie you read two books?! I‘m pacing myself with this one. 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

@TheBookHippie 🤣😂🤣 I‘m dying!!! This is what no one has told us. I found the TEDtalk on finding Richard and we all know he was found in a car park, what they‘re not repeating is that he was found in the car park of child protective services which is hilarious considering the princes in the tower. 😂🤣😂 not sure I put this under the proper book…perhaps it should be under the book about the princes #Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie okay, seriously, this is the BEST thing I‘ve watched in Richard. It‘s wonderful information AND an absolute laugh. https://www.ted.com/talks/dr_turi_king_king_richard_iii_solving_a_500_year_old_c... 4y

julesG Karma? 4y

GingerAntics @julesG right? Isn‘t it perfect? 🤣😂🤣 I can‘t stop laughing about that. I might be a bit twisted. 4y

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julesG That TED talk was great. Sadly the audience only got half of her scientific puns. 😁 4y

GingerAntics @julesG I did notice that. She tried making several jokes, and I was surprised how many of them seemed to fly over their heads. I was in stitches, though. She was really great. 4y

TheBookHippie Oh this is goooood!!!!! 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it covers everything in the university‘s press conference, but it‘s way more enjoyable. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I loved her! 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie right? 4y

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The Sunne In Splendour: A Novel of Richard III

Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

@TheBookHippie I just watched this documentary on YouTube. It‘s not the best way to watch a documentary, but this one is really well done AND incorporates Shakespeare‘s play. Also, the ending is… 🤯🤯🤯. When the credits rolled, I just kept saying “oh my god” to myself.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=bkRftHETKjU

#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics @TrishB this documentary makes the point you were making earlier about Richard III being standard for his time. It also has quite the groundbreaking tidbit, so it really kind of exonerates his taking the thrown. I know it‘s on YouTube so not the best, but this is an AMAZING documentary. I‘m still shocked. 4y

TrishB I‘ll check this out later- in between work meetings at the moment! I think I may have already seen it, but will check. The best fiction book about Richard is this one

GingerAntics @TrishB this one talks about the French baptism records and the Duke of York‘s (his father, also named Richard - of course) battle schedule in France. (Edward IV and his next brother, Clarence - who really did betray EV - were both born in France.) I hope your work meetings aren‘t boring or stressful. (edited) 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

@TheBookHippie so this is my contribution to our extra-theatrical discussion of Richard III. (Well, one of them. I‘m still watching things on YouTube. This is what happens when you can watch YouTube in your TV.) This is part of the procession for his reinterment. This would have been so cool to be at.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F_Rt2XVdET0

#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I also felt like Dominic should have been one of those guys in the mediaeval armour. He‘s Richard‘s body double, really. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics oh I‘m watching this ASAP ! 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie luckily this is just a few minutes long. I‘m planning on watching the entire ceremony for his reinterment later tonight. I know of a couple places where that exists. 4y

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TheBookHippie @GingerAntics oooo let me know what you find. I‘m looking at the weeks reading tomorrow I‘ll bet I read it differently 😅 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I haven‘t even touched the reading yet. I don‘t know why, but I‘ve gotten into the habit of reading on Saturdays so I remember things better for the conversations. I‘ve even watched the university press conference. It was quite interesting but probably boring to some people. It‘s definitely going to be much different reading act III now. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I follow a schedule 😅🤪 keeps it all straight in my head LOL 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie basically, so do I. I‘ve figured out what to read each day of the week to make sure I get all of my reads done on time. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I guess I didn‘t have the whole ceremony. Everyone just has highlights which are nice and all, but I want to see the whole bloody thing. One of the guys from the Richard III society actually knew of documents where Richard laid out specific prayers he wanted said at his funeral, for himself and his wife (in Latin of course). So the guy was going to say them. It was so sweet. 400 years later than expected, but still touching. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics awe. I have holds in at library I‘m hoping it‘s another Richard DVD 😂 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

So this one is labelled “Key Characters in Richard III” so this seemed right up our alley. As you can see it starts with R2 way at the top. I need to go through and highlight which of these people are specifically in this play and who has died so far…and update as we read of course.

TheBookHippie, Graywacke, LitStephanie

Graywacke Oh, that‘s a lot of information at once. My little brain hurts. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke Lol this covers all of the first 2 tetralogies, so I‘m hoping I can use it to create something that‘s more specific to this play. 4y

Lcsmcat It is helpful to see it layer out like this. Since they share so many names (first names & titles-instead-of-names) the graphic helps keep them straight. Thanks! 4y

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LitStephanie It is so refreshing to see a Ralph amongst all the Richards, Johns, and Henrys. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie wasn‘t that a shock? How come he didn‘t get a role in a play somewhere? 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat right? I want to go color code by play to see where everyone falls. 4y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics I want to hear Ralph's story, LOL 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie Ralph (the Only) by William Henry Edward Shakespeare 🤣😂🤣 (edited) 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie every scene must have someone says “Ralph? What kind of name is Ralph?” 😂🤣😂 4y

LitStephanie 🤣🤣🤣 4y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics bahaha! The only by William Henry Edward . . . Oh I am dying over here. 4y

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King Richard the Third | William Shakespeare

Act 2. In this photo, that moment when your creepy, hateful brother in law thinks he can hug you now because your husband is dead. #shakespearereadalong

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

Richard III (not to be confused with young Richard, Duke of York seen here), wasted no time “protecting” his nephews by whisking them away to the palace we now know as the Tower of London. Uncle Richard lied right to his mama‘s face (what a shock, I know). What are your thoughts on another action filled act?
#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

Graywacke Well, I started by rereading all of Act 1 with Richard present. He controls the script, tells us what to think in conspiracy with us, then acts the part. And we almost wait for a wink. This act - some mixed with the Queen and Edward/Clarence/Richard‘s mother - was a little strange because R wasn‘t telling us what he was doing. He abandoned us to go secret. I‘m a little annoyed at him for that. 4y

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Graywacke So - scene 4 the Queen and Duchess tall with Clarence‘s children. It‘s a strange conversation and the Queen tells little York, “you are too shrewd.” Ok, can anyone help with that conversation? I was confused. Missed all the meaning. 4y

batsy @Graywacke That's an interesting point and makes sense in that I missed Richard but couldn't quite put my finger on why, and that's because he didn't invite us in to listen to his plans. (I also hope this is a safe space where I can say things like "I missed Richard" ?) 4y

batsy This was yet another jam-packed scene but what I particularly liked was that Shakespeare pulled back and gave us a macro view with the citizens' perspectives (and yet again, way too relevant!) 4y

Graywacke Oops - little York is Edward‘s younger son. Thought he was Clarence‘s child from scene 2...oye. Sorry for the confusion. Anyway, the teeth comment and the nurse and the pitcher has ears - I didn‘t get it at all (scene 4) 4y

Graywacke @batsy that citizens conversation was an interesting touch. (And you‘re definitely safe to say here you miss the murderous sociopath...and you‘re not alone. 🙂) 4y

TheBookHippie @batsy 🤣 I feel the exact same emotion. @Graywacke I wonder if the saying “Little pitcher has big ears” comes from here 😝 4y

TheBookHippie I also reread from beginning it is a LOT going on 🤯 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke She thinks he has figured or started to figure out Richard because of something he said ? Parts of this perplexed me as well I plan to dig deeper this weekend as I have time! 4y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie signet claims Shakespeare used a commonly known saying with the pitcher and ears - although he modified it a touch...need to get my edition in hand. 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke me too. Enjoying sunshine on patio with coffee uninterrupted so I‘ve not gotten up to grab it. 4y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie sounds luxurious 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke RARE event .. 4y

mollyrotondo @Graywacke I just took Scene 4 to show how cruel Richard is (telling his nephew he grows so fast like an ugly weed) and that Richard‘s own mother doesn‘t find her son to be at all a gracious man or, as we see later, a trustworthy man. And also to show how young York is paying attention. I‘m not sure if this kid becomes an adversary to Richard later (my knowledge of this history is so limited) but to show that kids pick up on truth like citizens.. 4y

mollyrotondo @Graywacke but I could be totally wrong 😂 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke Pelican has the same note on little pitchers. 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke As to the boy being “shrewd” Shakes uses “cunning” in the same line, so I took it to mean he was too smart for his own safety. 4y

Graywacke @mollyrotondo that‘s helpful. And the teeth tells us something about Richard too. Hmm. @Lcsmcat what got me was that he did something smart to inspire the gentle criticism. I missed the cause of the comment. 4y

Lcsmcat @batsy @graywacke Insightful comments about pulling back and not being inside Richard‘s head anymore. I wonder, since his monologue took the place of an opening chorus, if we won‘t get back inside it until the end? Or ever? (This is my first time reading it.) 4y

GingerAntics @batsy I did find that scene with the citizens to be very poignant. I think it would be easy to write it off because it‘s that one moment you‘re not at court, but it‘s so very important if you‘re paying attention. The feel of that scene is much different from all the others, too. It‘s definitely a jarring switch. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I rather enjoyed that conversation with York. It certainly paints the younger brother of the new king as a witting, lovable character. I‘m thinking that scene was meant to paint the boys, at least York, as integral parts of the family, people who would have been missed when they went missing. Just my take on it. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I don‘t know. Maybe because I know the story from a historical POV, I‘ve had my suspicions of Uncle Richard from the beginning. I always got the impression (in both Act I and II) that he only tells you what he wants you to know. I don‘t think we were getting the full story from him in act I, so in that sense, I didn‘t think much of his different approach in this act. He was too busy conning mummy in this act to worry about us. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie my edition suggested that the saying, though slightly different, was already well known. 4y

GingerAntics @mollyrotondo I think that‘s a really valid assessment. York ends up being one of the princes in the tower, so Richard certainly sees him as an adversary. I picked up on Richard‘s mother not really trusting or feeling comfortable (not sure that‘s the right sentiment) with him. I think she suspects he‘s up to something. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat that‘s what I got from that line, too. York notices a little “too much,” as it were. 4y

GingerAntics I‘m still trying to figure out why after Edward IV‘s death, Edward V is still referred to as “the Prince.” They don‘t need to bring the Prince to London, they need to bring the King to London. As soon as his father died, he was King, coronation or not. (Think Edward VIII) 4y

LitStephanie I loved the phony making nice of the queen's relations and Buckingham and Hastings. Also loved when R says, "I do not know that Englishman alive with whom my soul is any jot at odds . . . I thank my God for my humility." ?? 4y

LitStephanie @batsy @Graywacke Richard does talk to us a little bit, as when he says Clarence was killed because "some tardy cripple bare the countermand" order to stop the execution, ha! Laughed a lot during scene 1. I found scene 4 kind of boring, but it shows how the Duchess sees R for what he is and builds on the idea of R being vicious from birth. People thought his physical deformities were proof of it. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie that line was great. It was hard not to laugh at that. 🤣😂🤣 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie maybe in the play, but in real life he really wasn‘t deformed. That was propaganda against him after his death. One shoulder would have been slightly higher than the other, but he would have looked perfectly normal, especially once they got all of his regalia on him. 4y

LitStephanie When Elizabeth makes the "pitchers have ears" comment, do you think she meant that her and her allies were the ones talking about R being a little sharp toothed monster as a baby? And she is wanting him to shut up about the stuff they have said because there are probably more dangerous conversations he has also overheard? @Lcsmcat @Graywacke @batsy 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie that makes a lot of sense. It did seem like they were all realising just how much York heard/understood/remembered. He probably did hear much more damaging information, he just wasn‘t amused by any of that. York seems amused by the stories of his Uncle Richard. There is the logical reason he was locked up with his brother since he would have been the next in line (Richard being the next after him), but he may have easily also had… 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie damaging information on Richard that he wanted kept secret. York‘s grandmother and everyone else in the conversation probably would have preferred he keep his mouth shut as well, especially after Richard took the crown. 4y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics oh for sure it's Tudor propaganda, although I thought I heard based on the analysis of his skeleton they think one arm might have been a bit small, too. WS really hits that nonsense hard, LOL, because he had to make those Tudors happy! 4y

LitStephanie Yeah, I got the feeling from the conversations with Clarence's kids and young York that Richard played the funny, teasing uncle. 4y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics great point about Edward's son being king already as soon as his dad died. Another weird inconsistency is when the Duchess says two of her sons are dead--guess she already forgot poor Rutland? 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie I‘m so glad I wasn‘t the only one who got that impression. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie there are some really weird elements of this story. One would have to imagine they were purposeful by Shakes, but why? I wonder if they all serve the plot somehow? I feel like we seriously need a scholar or two to get some of these answers. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie oh yeah, this play is total propaganda. I get that all of the history plays are almost caricatures of the real historical events, but this one seems to be leaving some questions or strange inconsistencies. He was definitely playing to his Tudor patrons. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics propaganda is as old as humanity right? All the scheming and undertones is enjoyable in Shakespeare 🤍 maybe it makes us feel more sane about nowadays 🤣Does make me want to look closer at history in this time period. 4y

Lcsmcat @LitStephanie Good point. She‘s trying to keep herself safe as well as him. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie the history of this time period in England is a blur of Edwards, Richards, and Henrys. It‘s hard to keep all of them straight. York is also Richard. There are several Elizabeths and Marys and Annes as well. 😵‍💫 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie I like Ed West‘s approach to this period. Its very readable and approachable. He doesn‘t take himself too seriously by any stretch. You‘ll laugh through it. Some people don‘t like him, though. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I‘m going to need a chart 🤣 4y

LitStephanie @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I actually have a harder time keeping track of all the various dukes and earls. I can't remember who double crossed or murdered who at this point. 4y

TheBookHippie @LitStephanie we need a murder chart… @GingerAntics 4y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie https://www.pinterest.com/pin/339951471843396072/ 🤷🏻‍♂️ 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @LitStephanie I seriously wish these people were a little more creative in naming their bloody children. You get 5 siblings - Henry, Richard, Edward, Mary, and Elizabeth - and they all go off and have kids - Richard, Henry, George, Edward, Mary, Elizabeth. Then the second generation goes on to have a boat load of kids and guess what they name them!!! No Brian? No Michael? No Robert? 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @LitStephanie Every now and again you‘ll get a William. Every generation needs one. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Even now, William has a George. Harry (actually Henry) finally got more creative. It seems Richard and Edward have fallen out of favour. 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie @LitStephanie let me see what I can do. The intermarriages really don‘t help either. 4y

TheBookHippie @GingerAntics I so agree with the names .. something new please…having said that my family it‘s John for generations upon generations it‘s in all the boys names first or middle 🤣 even my son 😝 Elijah John .. however I kept my maiden name and gave it to my daughter… scandalous ✌🏻like even now William and George ! All the Elizabeth‘s 🤯 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie if you go to Edward VIII and George VI (brothers - Queen Elizabeth‘s uncle and father respectively) they literally share two names. If you go compare George V and George VI (father and son) they share THREE bloody names!!! 4y

LitStephanie @TheBookHippie a murder chart! 🤣 @GingerAntics then there is the fact that no one of title uses last names, which makes it even harder to keep up with family connections. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie @TheBookHippie I‘ve got a single page family chart that covers pretty much everyone from R2-R3. It‘s just figuring out who died when and by whom. I may just end up doing it by hand. 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke well this will put me down a new rabbit hole 🤣🤣🤷🏻‍♀️ 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie that‘s what sent me in search of family trees. 4y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie Just trying to help 😇😁 4y

batsy @LitStephanie I'd forgotten about that line and went back to look it up because I had a bunch of notes written there basically saying "hahaha". Richard does have some outstanding lines ? 4y

LitStephanie @batsy I think R3 is Shakespeare's funniest villian. 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

This is an adorable image…until you realise this is the WEDDING of a 4 year old (Richard, Duke of York) and a five year old (Lady Anne, his bride).
#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick Points for the maid of honor looking to be the dog. 😁 4y

GingerAntics @Kelly_the_Bookish_Sidekick 🤣😂🤣 That‘s what the dog was doing!!! I was trying to figure that part out. 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

Richard is just so treacherous. He doesn‘t care who he lies to, even his mother. Act II was quite a trip. We have movement!!!
#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

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King Richard the Third | William Shakespeare

I forgot my text and am on holiday, but I didn't want to miss the great Act 1 discussion hosted by @GingerAntics over at #Shakespearereadalong, so I settled for a well read performane online. Clarence describes his vivid dream, in which R falls and takes Clarence down with him as he tries to catch him. Rich, poignant speech where Clarence reflects that he is a perjured traitor--soon he'll find out he isn't the only traitor in the family.

Graywacke Awesome 4y

GingerAntics That looks good!!! 4y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics at first I was really skeptical because the costumes and makeup are so lazy, but after about a minute I realized the actors are really good. 🙂 4y

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Daisey

Richard III | William Shakespeare

I started Richard III this morning before church. I‘m interested to see how this one goes as Act 1 seemed pretty intense right from the beginning.

#ShakespeareReadalong #ArkAngelShakespeare #BookAndBreakfast

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

Richard has started his scheming right off the bat, including a really awkward attempt at getting a widow he created to marry him (yeah, that‘s not weird… and did she really just fall for it?). I have a feeling this is going to be another wild ride. Thoughts?
#Shakespeare #RichardIII #shakespearereadalong

Lcsmcat I love how this play jumped in with both feet. From the opening monologue to the wordplay between Richard and Lady Anne, there wasn‘t a dull moment in this act! 4y

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LitStephanie I find the wooing of Anne Neville disturbing. The scene is funny, with R's preposterous excuse of murdering everyone for her, but how can she possibly accept him? I can only assume she is attracted to the power of evil. Maybe she assumes she will be safe and protected with him. He is a murderer, but he is victorious and successful. 4y

Graywacke The opening monologue is such a wonderful powerful terrible thing, i was all in there. And then to see Richard hit so many extremes- false friendship, false wooing, false anger - and all with such complete commitment. Good stuff. 4y

Graywacke @LitStephanie the wooing of Anne is really awkward. I think he brings only false confidence. But she does get my favorite line, after listening to his warped logic, she says, instead of farewell, “But since you teach me how to flatter you, / Imagine I have said farewell already.” 4y

TheBookHippie I‘m going to LOVE this ! Anne has to have her reasons or a game plan ? Richard III IS marvellous .. I‘m allin. I‘m thinking this is going to be wilder than our last read 💀 every word was so good!! 4y

Graywacke @Lcsmcat will it be like this through the whole play? 4y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie i hope Anne has her reasons. Do you think she showed giving in, or a manipulative noncommittal? 4y

TheBookHippie @Graywacke oh I think it‘s manipulative 🤣 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke that opening monologue was amazing. I see why it‘s such a well known speech. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke that was such a wonderfully dismissive line. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie disturbing is a great word for the wooing. The excuses are insane. I was ready for “Very Scary People: Richard III” after those excuses. It sounds like the kinds of things the serial killers on that show say. I‘m really hoping she‘s got a plan in mind. I have a feeling Richard is going to be the kind of character we love to hate. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat there was absolutely no preamble. From the first line we were right in there. I rather like it, I think. I‘m certainly enjoying it so far. 4y

Graywacke @TheBookHippie i hope so! @GingerAntics I adore Richard so far. I mean he‘s awful. And I‘m not crazy about the murdering bits, but his ability to he ruthlessly practical, no nonsense, always sharp and on his toes, without compromising anything is brilliant. 4y

Lcsmcat @Graywacke That was a great zinger! 4y

Lcsmcat @TheBookHippie @Graywacke I hope it will be like this the whole play. I‘m so much more invested than I was with the last play. “All in” is a great way to describe it. 4y

mollyrotondo I am loving this play so far! Richard‘s opening monologue is priceless. And when The Murderers step in and he greets them like old friends I just grinned because it is so absurd and really shows how Richard is truly evil. That whole scene with Anne was so creepy and I got so confused by the end of it because she started to give in to his wooing. So strange! And the Margaret‘s curses! Of course she‘d put a hex on everyone. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I don‘t know if I like him or not…I may be leaning more Anne. Like you said, she‘s gotten the best line so far. 4y

GingerAntics @mollyrotondo this play is quite action packed. There is no lagging. There are no boring parts so far. It‘s a great play, really. 4y

TheBookHippie @Lcsmcat RIGHT?! 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻 4y

TheBookHippie @mollyrotondo haha Margaret. I still love her character 🤣😅 4y

mollyrotondo @TheBookHippie 😂 I will say her part in this Act was brilliant lol she‘s not my favorite person but this was excellent! 4y

LitStephanie @GingerAntics definitely! He is so cunning/funny/sociopathic. 4y

GingerAntics @LitStephanie I feel so torn by Richard. He‘s a total jerk and a psychopath, but he‘s quite entertaining. I seem to alway picture him smirking and rubbing his hands together. 4y

batsy What a start! Dark, vicious, and mean, with some marvellous lines and wordplay. I enjoyed it 😳 Shakespeare seems to be enjoying himself, too. Richard is such a sophisticated villain and that whole scene with Anne was Hitchcock-levels creepy. I also found Clarence's dream sequence very ominous in terms of setting the mood; reminded me a bit of Julius Caesar. 4y

GingerAntics @batsy that is the perfect way to describe the scene with Anne. Hitchcockian. Is that a word? I need that to be a word. 4y

batsy @GingerAntics I now declare Hitchcockian a word because it's excellent 😂 4y

GingerAntics @batsy and so necessary for this play. 4y

Gezemice I have been out of touch but I am getting back to it - and thoroughly behind… I was just not inspired by the Henry VI‘s. This has a very different feeling. It is pure genius, right from the start. “The winter of our discontent” - I knew this, just did not know from where. Yeah, that scene with Anne is creepy as hell! And so effective! Also, Queen Margaret‘s curses. The foreshadowing! ⬇️ 4y

Gezemice And the scene with the murderers and Clarence at the end. Such a dramatic treatise on conscience. 4y

Gezemice @Graywacke @TheBookHippie @GingerAntics @mollyrotondo I adore Richard, too. There is nothing better than a well-drawn villain. He is the best! (edited) 4y

Graywacke @Gezemice glad you‘re catching up and enjoying this wonderful murderous villain. 4y

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Richard III | William Shakespeare

Alright #shakespearereadalong, time I actually start reading this thing.

(if anyone needs motivation ... and can stand Al Pacino‘s hyper-arrogance ... a trailer here: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=nVgdtcNwIGQ )

batsy I need to get started too 😅 4y

Lcsmcat @batsy It‘s not a slow-starting play. Will jumps right in with this one! 4y

batsy @Lcsmcat What a start! I'm close to underlining every line of Richard's opening monologue. 4y

Graywacke @batsy @Lcsmcat yes, to both. Phew. 4y

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Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

Finally starting this (long story about crazy fake editions 🤦🏼‍♀️) now that this lovely edition has arrived. Who is ready for our discussion of act 1 on Sunday?

Lcsmcat Fake editions? This is a story we need to hear! 4y

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GingerAntics @Lcsmcat I originally ordered the Folger Shakespeare Library edition (or so I thought). It was comparable in price to all the other Folger editions so I never thought to look at who the publisher was. Someone took the cover illegally, and put it on the text of the play. That‘s all it was, the text of the play. No title page. No copyright page. No notes, even though the cover said there were. It said “independent publisher” when I looked. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat it was a hot mess. The book itself was even too big to be the Folger. So I tried returning it. They told me to throw it away and they would give me a credit. I tried the whole “this publisher is illegally using the Folger Shakespeare Library cover” route and was dismissed. They‘re still selling that edition. I ordered this one and double checked it was published by Penguin Books. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat I just double checked. The store took down the listing for the fake Folger edition, so at least those don‘t seem to be getting sold anymore. 4y

Lcsmcat Wow. I have never run into anything like that, and I buy a lot of books. 4y

Lcsmcat @GingerAntics Good to know they took it down. 4y

GingerAntics @Lcsmcat same here. I‘ve never seen anything like this. For all the books I‘ve bought, this is a first. 4y

TheBookHippie Oh my word !!!!!!! Well this edition looks lovely …phew 4y

GingerAntics @TheBookHippie it really does. I managed to get this one and the Pelican edition of Hamlet (I collect editions of Hamlet). 4y

Graywacke I‘m ready. And, yeah, i once bought a garbage edition from Amazon. Very frustrating that these exist. 4y

GingerAntics @Graywacke I felt duped, but it‘s all worked out okay. 4y

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Lcsmcat

Richard III | William Shakespeare

I just finished Act 1, and I‘m liking this much the best of the Henry VI/Richard III tetralogy. There are some great speeches and excellent word play. #shakespearereadalong

44 likes

Richard III | William Shakespeare

In the mail today. @GingerAntics - I‘m ready! ⚔️ 🐎
#shakespearereadalong

GingerAntics It looks like it‘s passed the initial sniff test. 4y

TheBookHippie Mine arrives tomorrow ! 4y

Graywacke @GingerAntics 🙂 Pepper is curious, but I think she‘s still undecided. @TheBookHippie yay! 4y

GingerAntics The last one did have a lot of stabbiness. 4y

49 likes4 comments

Tragedy of Richard III | William Shakespeare

Our next play with be Richard III. We‘ll have our first conversation two Sundays from now, on 23 May.
Act I - 23 May
Act II - 20 May
Act III - 6 June
Act IV - 13 June
Act V - 20 June

Let me know if anyone needs to be added or wants to be removed.

Graywacke Book ordered. My brain is ready! 4y

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batsy Oh yes! I'm ready 🙂 4y

mollyrotondo So excited! 4y

TheBookHippie #shakespearereadalong I‘m ready! 4y

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Lcsmcat

Richard III | William Shakespeare

“A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a #horse!”
One of those quotes whose meaning gets misunderstood. Richard wasn‘t offering his kingdom to anyone who gave him a horse. He was decrying the fact that the lack of a horse was going to cost him the kingdom. #quotayaor21 @TK-421

LiteraryinPA Learn something new every day! 4y

Graywacke Cool comment and quote 4y

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