Subject
Inheritance and succession -- Drama Books
Best books
William Shakespeare
King Lear
"King Lear" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written in late 1605 or early 1606. Set in pre-Roman Britain, the play follows King Lear's catastrophic decision to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their declarations of love. When his youngest daughter speaks honestly rather than flatteringly, Lear disowns her, triggering a chain of betrayals, madness, and destruction. Known for its dark tone and themes of blindness and madness, the play is regarded as one of literature's greatest achievements.
Ben Jonson
Volpone; Or, The Fox
"Volpone; Or, The Fox" by Ben Jonson is a comedy play first produced in 1605–1606. In this merciless satire of greed and lust, a wealthy Venetian pretends to be dying to trick three greedy men hoping to inherit his fortune. With his cunning servant Mosca, Volpone weaves elaborate deceptions that escalate dangerously when desire for a beautiful woman enters the scheme. The plots grow increasingly complex until master and servant become entangled in their own web of lies, leading to consequences neither anticipated.
Friedrich Schiller
Die Räuber: Ein Schauspiel
"Die Räuber: Ein Schauspiel" by Friedrich Schiller is a drama first published in 1781. Two aristocratic brothers become bitter enemies when the jealous younger son, Franz, schemes to steal his father's love and inheritance from his idealistic older brother, Karl. Deceived and disowned, Karl becomes leader of a robber band, while Franz seizes control of the family estate. This Sturm und Drang masterpiece explores the conflict between reason and emotion, law and freedom, as both brothers hurtle toward tragic consequences.
Friedrich Schiller
The Robbers
"The Robbers" by Friedrich Schiller is a dramatic play published in 1781. This groundbreaking work centers on two aristocratic brothers locked in devastating conflict: the charismatic Karl and the calculating Franz, who schemes to steal his brother's inheritance. As Franz's manipulations drive Karl toward rebellion and violence, the play explores the blurred lines between liberty and law, good and evil. Schiller's emotionally charged language and unflinching portrayal of violence shocked eighteenth-century audiences, making him an overnight sensation and profoundly influencing European melodrama.
Ben Jonson
Epicoene; Or, The Silent Woman
"Epicoene; Or, The Silent Woman" by Ben Jonson is a comedy first performed in 1609. The play follows Dauphine, who devises an elaborate scheme to secure his inheritance from his uncle Morose, a wealthy man with an extreme hatred of noise. The plan centers on tricking Morose into marrying Epicoene, who appears to be the perfect silent bride. But after the wedding, chaos erupts as the house fills with noisy guests and the supposedly quiet wife reveals a very different nature. The play builds toward a shocking revelation that changes everything.
William Shakespeare
King Lear
"King Lear" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written in late 1605 or early 1606. Set in pre-Roman Britain, the play follows King Lear's catastrophic decision to divide his kingdom among his three daughters based on their declarations of love. When his youngest daughter refuses to flatter him, Lear sets in motion a chain of devastating consequences involving betrayal, madness, and blindness. Known for its dark tone and complex poetry, the play is regarded as one of Shakespeare's supreme achievements and among the greatest works of literature ever written.
Noël Coward
"I'll Leave It To You": A Light Comedy In Three Acts
"I'll Leave It to You": A Light Comedy in Three Acts by Noël Coward is a play written in 1919 and first produced in 1920. When a wealthy uncle announces he has three years to live, he promises his fortune to whichever of his five idle nieces and nephews achieves the most successful career. The challenge sparks an ambitious scramble among the young relatives, but Uncle Daniel may be playing a deeper game than anyone suspects in this clever comedy about motivation and family deception.
William Shakespeare
King Lear
"King Lear" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written in late 1605 or early 1606. Set in pre-Roman Britain, the play follows an aging king who divides his kingdom among his daughters based on their declarations of love, triggering devastating consequences. Known for its dark tone and exploration of blindness and madness, the work depicts family betrayal, political chaos, and human suffering. Regarded as one of Shakespeare's supreme achievements, it is regularly cited as one of the greatest works of literature ever written.
William Shakespeare
King Lear
"King Lear" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written in late 1605 or early 1606. Set in pre-Roman Britain, the play follows an aging king who divides his kingdom among his daughters based on their declarations of love, with devastating consequences. Known for its dark tone and themes of blindness and madness, the work explores power, family betrayal, and the descent into chaos. Regarded as one of Shakespeare's supreme achievements, it is regularly cited as among the greatest works of literature ever written.
William Shakespeare
Das Leben und der Tod des Königs Lear
"Das Leben und der Tod des Königs Lear" by William Shakespeare is a tragedy written around 1606. The play follows the fate of King Lear and his three daughters amid the violent turmoil of a divided kingdom. When Lear banishes his youngest daughter Cordelia for failing a test of love, he sets in motion a devastating chain of events. A parallel storyline involving Earl Gloucester and his two sons mirrors Lear's tragedy, as loyal children are cast out while disloyal ones scheme for power and inheritance.
Owen Davis
Icebound: A Play
"Icebound: A Play by Owen Davis" is a drama written in 1923 that won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Set on a Maine farm, the play follows the Jordan family as they gather for the reading of their matriarch's will. When the estate unexpectedly passes to a distant cousin, Jane Crosby, family tensions rise. Jane must navigate her new responsibilities, including helping the family's troubled young son Ben, who fled after accidentally burning a neighbor's farm. This grim portrayal of New England life explores family loyalty, redemption, and unexpected inheritance.
Friedrich Schiller
La Rabistoj: Dramo en kvin aktoj
"La Rabistoj: Dramo en kvin aktoj" by Friedrich Schiller is a dramatic play published in 1781. Two aristocratic brothers clash in this Sturm und Drang masterpiece: Karl, the beloved elder son, and Franz, the cold younger brother scheming to steal his inheritance. Karl becomes leader of a robber band while Franz manipulates their father through lies. As violence and deception spiral, Schiller explores the nature of good and evil, personal liberty versus law, and the hypocrisies of class and religion in German society.
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