Reading Group Extra: King Richard II with Dr. Sarah Skwire 

This Virtual Reading Group Extra with Dr. Sarah Skwire and Christy Horpedahl takes a brief look at William Shakespeare’s The Life and Death of King Richard the Second. It’s the first play in the Henry Tetralogy and covers the last two years of Ricahrd’s life and his death.
They discuss traitors, Shakespeare's use of poetry, and David Tennant's hair. Also, here's the Online Library of Liberty Reading Room post mentioned in the episode that talks about how the Earl of Essex is beheaded by Queen Elizabeth I for paying for a production of this play (also, he did plot an uprising): Gary McGath's The Banning of the Bard.
Two of the VERY famous speeches from the play that they discuss are:
Richard II, "Sad Stories of The Death of Kings.” Act III, Scene 2
John of Gaunt, "This Sceptred Isle." Act II, Scene 1
Less famous, but also discussed, is Richard II to his Queen, "Join Not with Grief." Act V, Scene 1
If you want to weigh in on whether you think Ben Whishaw is a better Richard II in The Hollow Crown (episode 1) or David Tennant is a better Richard II in the Royal Shakespeare Company RU-vid clip, you can leave a comment for us.
Sarah Skwire is a Senior Fellow at Liberty Fund as well as a Shakespeare Scholar and this conversation is, in part, inspired by a virtual reading group hosted by Liberty Fund on Richard II, Henry the IV, Part 1 & 2, and Henry V.
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