Regan is a fictional character in William Shakespeare’s tragic play King Lear, named after a King of the Britons recorded by the medieval scribe Geoffrey of Monmouth. Shakespeare based the character on Regan, a personage described by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudo-historical chronicle Historia regum Britanniae (“History of the Kings of Britain”, c. 1138) as one of the British king Lear’s three daughters, alongside Goneril and Cordelia (the source for Cordelia), and the mother of Cunedagius.
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 Regan is a fictional character in William Shakespeare’s tragic play King Lear, named after a King of the Britons recorded by the medieval scribe Geoffrey of Monmouth. Shakespeare based the character on Regan, a personage described by Geoffrey of Monmouth in his pseudo-historical chronicle Historia regum Britanniae (“History of the Kings of Britain”, c. 1138) as one of the British king Lear’s three daughters, alongside Goneril and Cordelia (the source for Cordelia), and the mother of Cunedagius.
