How did Thomas More’s History of Richard III influence Shakespeare’s play Richard III?

Thomas More’s History of King Richard III (written c. 1513) served as a foundational source and inspiration for William Shakespeare’s play Richard III. More’s work, which is considered a landmark in biography and the first masterpiece of English historiography, provided Shakespeare with a vivid, albeit biased, portrait of the king as a quintessential tyrant.123

More’s characterization of Richard—described as a "deep dissembler" who was "outwardly companionable where he inwardly hated"—was instrumental in shaping the villainous persona Shakespeare dramatized. This depiction was transmitted to Shakespeare primarily through the chronicles of Edward Hall and Raphael Holinshed, which incorporated More’s narrative.2

While More’s work is celebrated for its wit and irony, it does not meet modern standards of biographical truth, as it relies on invented dialogue to dramatize historical events. Shakespeare utilized these dramatic scenes to craft his own "rousing melodramatic tragedy," effectively cementing the popular, dark image of Richard III that persists in the cultural imagination.2