Hosted by Dennis Leap

Shakespeare’s Royal Education

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Aired: December 13, 2023 • 56 minutes

The Life and Death of King John

Host Dennis Leap begins the discussion of one of William Shakespeare’s most unusual plays about one of England’s most hated kings—John. King John was the son of the famous Plantagenets Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine. John’s older brother was Richard the Lionheart. John’s terrible leadership led to the creation of one of the most important foundational documents for a free and lawful society: the Magna Carta. Shakespeare’s poetry gives a fascinating view of the history of this brutish monarch and his subjects. After an hour or two of experiencing England under King John, the Tudor dynasty could take on a fresh appeal.