The flamboyant and boastful Pistol, who makes his first appearance in Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 2, is here the author of his own extravagant memoirs, wherein the reader is treated to a hilarious account of his adventures before the appearance of Prince Hal. This, the first volume (the author promises at least three more), relates events during the reign of Richard II. All the characters from The Boar s Head (referred to by Pistol as The Hog Trough ) are here: Ned Poins, Mistress Quickly, Doll Tearsheet and, of course, Sir John Falstaff. Pursued by creditors, Pistol takes refuge in their company, where his absurd antics attract the attention of a nobleman who offers him employment as a royal spy, just the sort of occupation for which (as he is quick to tell his companions and the reader) Pistol is ideally suited. The action moves rapidly from one farcical situation to another, much in the manner of a Carry On movie. There is drunken revelry and brawling; great is the energy and ingenuity spent in the lecherous pursuit of the fairer sex; and frequent are the periods of rueful repentance in the stocks. All life (or at least, all base life) is here, and the reader will find much to chuckle at in this delicious comedy of errors.
- ISBN10 1846242533
- ISBN13 9781846242533
- Publish Date 28 August 2008
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 4 October 2010
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Book Guild Publishing Ltd
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 282
- Language English