Book 1

Henry IV

by William Shakespeare

Published 1 April 1965
The Oxford School Shakespeare is a well-established series which helps students understand and enjoy Shakespeare's plays. As well as the complete and unabridged text, each play in this series has an extensive range of students' notes. These include detailed and clear explanations of difficult words and passages, a synopsis of the plot, summaries of individual scenes, and notes on the main characters. Also included is a wide range of questions and activities for work in class, together with the historical background to Shakespeare's England, a brief biography of Shakespeare, and a complete list of his plays. Roma Gill, the series editor, has taught Shakespeare at all levels. She has acted in and directed Shakespeare's plays, and has lectured on Shakespeare all over the world.

Book 1

Henry IV, Part I

by William Shakespeare

Published 1 March 1969
Following the death of Richard II, Shakespeare continues his history cycle with part one of the story of Henry IV—a play about power, honor, and rebellion.

This title in the Signet Classics Shakespeare series includes:

• An overview of William Shakespeare’s life, world, and theater
• A special introduction to the play by the editor, Maynard Mack
• A note on the sources from which Shakespeare derived Henry IV, Part One—including selections from Raphael Holinshed’s The Chronicles of England, Scotland, and Ireland
• Dramatic criticism from Samuel Johnson, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, John Dover Wilson, and others
• A stage and screen history of notable actors, directors, and productions of Henry IV, Part One
• Text, notes, and commentaries printed in the clearest, most readable format
• Recommended readings

Book 1

Widely studied from GCSE and A level to undergraduate level, this edition of the play offers students a range of contextual detail against which to read the text. Documents included cover issues of historiography, performance and sources, especially sources for the classic figure of Falstaff.

Book 1

Henry IV, Part 1

by William Shakespeare

Published 1 April 1965
Henry IV sits on a usurped throne, his conscience and his nobles in revolt, while his son Hal is immersed in a self-indulgent life of revelry with the notorious Sir John Falstaff. Shakespeare explores questions of kingship and honor in this masterly mingling of history, comedy, and tragedy.

Under the editorial supervision of Jonathan Bate and Eric Rasmussen, two of today’s most accomplished Shakespearean scholars, this Modern Library series incorporates definitive texts and authoritative notes from William Shakespeare: Complete Works. Each play includes an Introduction as well as an overview of Shakespeare’s theatrical career; commentary on past and current productions based on interviews with leading directors, actors, and designers; scene-by-scene analysis; key facts about the work; a chronology of Shakespeare’s life and times; and black-and-white illustrations.

Ideal for students, theater professionals, and general readers, these modern and accessible editions from the Royal Shakespeare Company set a new standard in Shakespearean literature for the twenty-first century.

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Book 2

Henry IV, Part II

by William Shakespeare

Published 1 March 1988
Picking up where Henry IV, Part One left off after the Battle of Shrewsbury, Henry IV, Part Two is the story of England's King Henry IV during his final months of life, his reconciliation with his wayward heir, and his eventual death.

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The New Cambridge Shakespeare appeals to students worldwide for its up-to-date scholarship and emphasis on performance. The series features line-by-line commentaries and textual notes on the plays and poems. Introductions are regularly refreshed with accounts of new critical, stage and screen interpretations. This second edition retains Giorgio Melchiori's text of Shakespeare's The Second Part of King Henry IV. Melchiori argues that the play forms an unplanned sequel to the First Part, itself a 'remake' of an old, non-Shakespearean play. In the Second Part, Shakespeare deliberately exploits Falstaff's popular appeal and the resulting rich humour adds a comic dimension to the play, rendering it a unique blend of history, morality play and comedy. Among modern editions, Melchiori's is the one most firmly based on the quarto. This second edition includes a new section by Adam Hansen on recent stage, film and critical interpretations.