Richard II Audiobook (Free)

Shakespeare’s finest verse play is also his first portrait of the mindset of power.

The sensitive and poetic Richard II is undoubtedly the rightful king of Britain but he’s unscrupulous and weak. When his cousin Henry Bolingbroke profits from banishment and mounts a challenge to his authority, Richard’s right to the throne demonstrates of little help to him. Richard is pressured to abdicate, but as his power is definitely stripped apart, he increases dignity and self-awareness, and he fits his death heroically. Meanwhile Bolingbroke’s seizure of the crown has triggered resentment among the nobles of England.

Rupert Graves is Richard II, and Julian Glover is Bolingbroke. John Wood plays John of Gaunt.