Shakespeare's History Plays

This book first published by Penguin in 1988 provides an excellent introduction to the world and action of Shakespeare's history plays. Part I examines the context for Shakespeare's history plays including the a treatment of Elizabethan cosmology and its relevance to political order. Part 2 explores the 'Ricardian' plays under the following headings: Mirrors of our Fickle State; Hawks and Handsaws: Modes and Genres of the Plays; This Blessed Plot: Husbandry and the Garden; Passing Brave to be a King: Richard II; This Royal Throne of Kings: Henry IV parts 1 and 2; This Sceptred Isle: Henry V; A Trim Reckoning: Language Poetics and Rhetoric. This title is also available as a searchable ebook from Humanities-Ebooks.co.uk and for libraries from Ebrary EBSCO and Ingram. Interesting articulate and accessible this is a very good introduction. Ideal for anyone seeking an overview of the plays.--by Tom Wright