The Tragedy of King Lear by William Shakespeare Virtual Entertainment, 2012 Series: World classic books King Lear is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1603 and 1606, and is considered one of his greatest works. The play is based on the legend of King Leir of Britain. It has been widely adapted for stage and screen, with the part of Lear being played by many of the world's most accomplished actors. — Excerpted from King Lear on Wikipedia, the free encyclop