Having successfully rebelled against Richard II, King Henry now finds himself doubly beset – this time by rebels of his own, led by the charismatic Harry Hotspur, in Henry IV, Part 1. His son, Prince Hal, appears far more drawn to the tavern world and the company of the fat rogue Falstaff than to affairs of state, yet ultimately proves himself a courageous opponent of the rebellion. The play mixes political intrigue with boisterous comedy, draws subtle links between high statecraft and low cunning, and ranges exuberantly across a cast of vivid characters, all while exploring themes of honour, loyalty and the pursuit of power. By Henry IV, Part 2, the King is ailing, Falstaff is growing old, and the kingdom itself, still riven by rebellion, feels diseased and debilitated; the comedy takes on a melancholy edge and the politics tilt towards the Machiavellian. It falls to the resourceful Hal, who inherits the crown as Henry V, to prove that he can govern justly. Across both plays Shakespeare shows a mastery of thematic complexity, revealing the human cost that political success can exact. This edition is edited, introduced and annotated by Cedric Watts, Emeritus Professor of English, University of Sussex.
ISBN 13: 9781840227215
Author: William Shakespeare
