About the work
History play by William Shakespeare about the final years of the reign of King John, probably written around 1596. No performance during Shakespeare's lifetime is recorded; the earliest documented staging took place only on 26 February 1737 at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, in London. The play was first printed in the First Folio of 1623.
Plot
The King of France backs a claim to the English throne on behalf of Arthur, John's nephew. After shifting battles and a failed marriage alliance, Arthur is captured and dies attempting to escape from a castle wall, prompting English nobles to defect to the French side. Only when the Bastard, Philip, rallies John's remaining supporters does the tide turn — but John himself dies, poisoned by a monk, shortly before peace is concluded.
Cultural significance
Alongside Richard II, King John is one of only two Shakespeare plays written entirely in verse. Popular in the Victorian era for its theatrical spectacle, it is among the less frequently staged histories today; in 1942 George Orwell praised its continuing political relevance.