The Lion In Winter
by James Goldman

Name: The Lion In Winter
Brand: James Goldman
SKU: 9780573012341
Rating: 4.22 (9940 reviews)

The Lion In Winter Book Cover — The Lion In Winter Cover

Highlights

Small Cast

Female

Male

120 minsHistorical Comedy

What readers are saying

Readers consistently praise the clever writing and complex characters in this play. The dialogue is noted for its wit and memorable quotes, making it a favorite among fans of historical drama. Many appreciate its exploration of political intrigue and familial dynamics, comparing it favorably to the iconic film adaptation. However, some find it lacks emotional depth, feeling slightly hollow despite its intellectual richness.

Clever and witty dialogueMemorable quotesStrong character dynamicsEngaging political intrigueSome feel it lacks emotional depth

Synopsis

Insecure siblings fighting for their parentsâ attention; bickering spouses who canâ t stand to be together or apart; adultery and sexual experimentation; even the struggle to balance work and family: These are themes as much at home in our time as they were in the twelfth century.

In James Goldmanâ s classic play The Lion in Winter, domestic turmoil rises to an art form.

Keenly self-aware and motivated as much by spite as by any sense of duty, Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine maneuver against each other to position their favorite son in line for succession.

By imagining the inner lives of Henry, Eleanor, and their sons, John, Geoffrey, and Richard, Goldman created the quintessential drama of family strife and competing ambitions, a work that gives visceral, modern-day relevance to the intrigues of Angevin England.

Combining keen historical and psychological insight with delicious, mordant wit, the stage play has become a touchstone of todayâ s theater scene, and Goldmanâ s screenplay for the 1968 film adaptation won him an Academy Award.

Told in â marvelously articulate language, with humor that bristles and burnsâ (

Los Angeles Times

), The Lion in Winter is the rare play that bursts into life on the printed page.