King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare in which the main character descends into madness after disposing of his estate between two of his three daughters based on their flattery, bringing tragic consequences for all. Based on the legend of Leir of Britain, a mythological pre-Roman Celtic king, the play has been widely adapted for the stage and motion pictures, with the title role coveted by many of the world's most accomplished actors. This edition has been formatted for your reader, with an active table of contents. This version is also annotated, with additional information about the play and William Shakespeare, such as an overview, characters, plot, sources, date, texts, analysis, context, biographical and bibliographical information.