Richard III [#books #review]

by William Shakespeare

English History
← Henry IV

Rating: 8/10

Now is the winter of our discontent
Made glorious summer by this sun of York,
And all the clouds that loured upon our house
In the deep bosom of the ocean buried.
Richard in the incipit

I don't remember how long it was since the last time I read Shakespeare, but it was obviously too long because I really missed him! It took me some time to finish this book because it's like I read it twice: I insisted on reading every page a first time in English and then in my native language, Italian, but the pleasure was definitely double!

Richard III is a protagonist who we love to hate, with his eloquence he conquers everyone, other characters and audience. Very high body count, suffering and pain expressed in the poetic way of the Bard, each verse exudes hatred and conveys charm. An exciting reading!

Quotes

This sorrow that I have, by right is yours,

And all the pleasures you usurp are mine.

(Queen Margaret, page 50, Act I, scene 3, lines 171-172)

To-morrow in the battle think on me,

And fall thy edgeless sword: despair, and die!

(page 234, Act V, scene 3, lines 135-136 and then again page 236, Act V, scene 3, lines 163-164)

Who's so gross

That cannot see this palpable device?

Yet who's so bold but says he sees it not?

Scrivano

(Page 148 Act III, scene 6, lines 10-12)

A horse! A horse! My kingdom for a horse!

(Richard III, page 248, Act V, scene 7, line 7 and then again line 13)

My charity is outrage, life my shame,

And in that shame still live my sorrow's rage!

Regina Margherita

(Page 58, Act I, scene 3, lines 276-277)

Now civil wounds are stopp'd, peace lives again:

That she may long live here, God say amen!

Richmond / Henry VII