Leir was a legendary king of the Britons whose story was recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudohistorical 12th-century History of the Kings of Britain. According to Geoffrey’s genealogy of the British dynasty, Leir reigned around the 8th century BC, around the time of the founding of Rome. The story was modified and retold by William Shakespeare in his Jacobean tragedy King Lear.
First Appearance Historia regum Britanniae (c. 1136) by Geoffrey of Monmouth
First Publisher ○
Appearance List Historia regum Britanniae (c. 1136) by Geoffrey of Monmouth — earliest widely attested narrative of Leir/Cordelia in the British pseudo-historical tradition; Historia regum Britanniae (1508) — Paris: printed by Josse Bade (Jodocus Badius Ascensius) often cited as the first major printed edition; Holinshed’s Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland (1577; rev. 1587) by Raphael Holinshed et al.; The True Chronicle History of King Leir (1605) by Anonymous (attributions disputed); M. William Shak-speare: His True Chronicle Historie of the life and death of King Lear… (1608) by William Shakespeare — first printed edition (Quarto 1); Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies (1623) by William Shakespeare — First Folio printing includes King Lear (the Folio version differs substantially from Q1); The History of King Lear (1681) by Nahum Tate — influential Restoration adaptation (famously alters the ending), published as performed at the Duke’s Theatre; A Midsummer Night’s Dream: and Other Stories by E. Nesbit (1890) (A midsummer night’s dream.–Hamlet, prince of Denmark.–Twelfth night.–King Lear) [Internet Archive]; King Lear (1971) directed by Peter Brook; King Lear (1971) directed by Grigori Kozintsev; Lear (1978) by Aribert Reimann — opera adaptation (libretto by Claus H. Henneberg; premiered 1978 in Munich).
Sample Read Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies [Internet Archive]
Description Leir was a legendary king of the Britons whose story was recounted by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudohistorical 12th-century History of the Kings of Britain. According to Geoffrey’s genealogy of the British dynasty, Leir reigned around the 8th century BC, around the time of the founding of Rome. The story was modified and retold by William Shakespeare in his Jacobean tragedy King Lear.
, 
, 