The Works Of William Shakespeare King Henry Iv Part 1

In the tumultuous realm of mediaeval England, King Henry IV grapples with rebellion and political unrest as he seeks to solidify his reign. His son, Prince Hal, notorious for his wild lifestyle, spends his days carousing with the roguish Sir John Falstaff and his band of misfits. However, when faced with the threat of rebellion from the valiant nobleman Hotspur and his allies, Prince Hal must confront his responsibilities and prove his worth as a future king. As battle looms on the horizon, alliances are tested, loyalties are questioned, and the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 has left a permanent mark on the world of literature and theatre since its debut in the late 16th century. Renowned for its dynamic characters and intricate plotlines, it became an immediate success and has remained popular with both the public and critics. WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE [1564-1616], born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England, is known as the greatest playwright of all time, with his name attached to a long line of immortal plays, including Othello, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth.

More troubled and troubling than King Henry IV Part 1, the play continues the story of King Henry's decline and Hal's reform. Though Part 2 echoes the structure of the earlier play, it is a darker and more unsettling world, in which even Falstaff's revelry is more tired and cynical, and the once-merry Hal sloughs off his tavern companions to become King Henry V. James C. Bulman's authoritative edition provides a wealth of incisive commentary on this complex history play.

This major new complete edition of Shakespeare's works combines accessibility with the latest scholarship. Each play and collection of poems is preceded by a substantial introduction that looks at textual and literary-historical issues. The texts themselves have been scrupulously edited and are accompanied by same-page notes and glossaries. Particular attention has been paid to the design of the book to ensure that this first new edition of the twenty-first century is both attractive and approachable.

Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV (two plays, including Henry IV, Part 2), and Henry V. Henry IV, Part 1 depicts a span of history that begins with Hotspur's battle at Homildon in Northumberland against the Douglas late in 1402, and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403. From the start it has been an extremely popular play both with the public and critics.