Book excerpt: This close study of film adaptations of King Lear looks at several different versions (mainstream, art-house and cinematic `offshoots') and discusses: the literary text in its historical context, key themes and dominant readings of the text, how the text is adapted for screen and how adaptations have changed our reading of the original text. There are many references to the literary text and screenplays and the book also features quotations from directors and critics. There is plenty of discursive material here to support student work on both film and literature courses.