Four Great Histories: Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, Henry V, and Richard III

by William Shakespeare

Among the most studied, read, and admired works in world literature, Shakespeare's histories are unmatched for their dramatic brilliance, beauty of language, and profundity of thought. This convenient and affordable volume — ideal for students and lovers of literature — features four of the playwright's greatest historical
Henry IV, Part 1 masterfully combines comedy and historic events in fifteenth-century England while chronicling the rebellion within Henry's kingdom and portraying events in the life of the profligate young Prince Hal
Henry IV, Part II, highlighted by spectacular battles and tender love scenes, witnesses Hal's maturation and the development of his leadership abilities
Henry V explores the means by which the "ideal monarch" invades France, wins at Agincourt, and claims the French throne
Richard III follows the scheming Duke of Gloucester as he systematically exterminates all those who thwart his plans to succeed to the English throne

Genres: Shakespeare, Drama, Plays, Classics

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 19, 2006

About the author

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "the Bard"). His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592, he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI and I of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613), he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs, and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Shakespeare produced most of his known works between 1589 and 1613. His early plays were primarily comedies and histories and are regarded as some of the best works produced in these genres. He then wrote mainly tragedies until 1608, among them Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth, all considered to be among the finest works in the English language. In the last phase of his life, he wrote tragicomedies (also known as romances) and collaborated with other playwrights.
Many of Shakespeare's plays were published in editions of varying quality and accuracy during his lifetime. However, in 1623, John Heminge and Henry Condell, two fellow actors and friends of Shakespeare's, published a more definitive text known as the First Folio, a posthumous collected edition of Shakespeare's dramatic works that includes 36 of his plays. Its Preface was a prescient poem by Ben Jonson, a former rival of Shakespeare, that hailed Shakespeare with the now famous epithet: "not of an age, but for all time".

Reviews

[Brian Longtin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Seems stupid to not give Shakespeare five stars, I know, I get it. I'm just saying if I were introducing someone to his work I wouldn't pick the history plays, even though there are some great characters and very memorable speeches/lines scattered throughout (in addition to really highlighting, though in a totally different style, how Game of Thrones was based off these same War of the Roses years).

[Glenn Franco Simmons · Rating 5 out of 5]

This has it all and so do the subsequent installments. Beware, those who lead, go to war amid cheers.

[Stephen Paul Chase, Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love histories!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Nia F. S. Kartadilaga · Rating 4 out of 5]

no words needed of how much i love Shakespeare's works

[Theresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Four Great Histories: Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, Henry V, and Richard III
Shakespeare, William
poetic look at history in the 16 th century allowing the build up of Henry the 8ths family and history, making it widely known how Queen Elizabeth i was the rightful queen.

[Lucy Samuelsen]

Richard III
Henry V