Featuring the rise of King Henry V, this history play chronicles England's underdog victory over the French at the Battle of Agincourt during the Hundred Years' War.
This revised Signet Classics edition includes unique features such as:
• An overview of Shakespeare's life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, John Russell Brown
• Selections from Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland, the source from which Shakespeare derived Henry V
• Dramatic criticism from William Hazlitt, W. B. Yeats, E.M.W. Tillyard, and others
• A comprehensive stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions
• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable text
• And more...
I honestly never thought I'd enjoy one of Shakepeare's histories, and I enjoy his work immensely. As it turns out this was actually a rather passionate play and it will certainly linger in my mind. I'll be lucky if I only manage to quote it a few times over the course of the next few weeks...
I'm kind of stuck on what I think of Henry though...Is he a good and just king? Or is he a good king who holds the power to manipulate with his words? I personally like him, he's passionate and I think it would take an incredibly stubborn person not to be moved at least a little by his display throughout.
Of course there are liberties taken with the actual history but Shakespeare knew how to tell a tale and he does it well with Henry V
Reading updates
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Started reading
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10 October, 2012:
Finished reading
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10 October, 2012:
Reviewed