King Henry V

A thorough account of its performance history including introduction, full text of play and footnotes.

William Shakespeare (Author), Emma Smith (Edited by)

9780521595117, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 27 June 2002

260 pages, 12 b/w illus. 1 table
22.5 x 15.3 x 1.9 cm, 0.421 kg

'I cannot recommend too highly the whole series (a bargain at £16.99 for each play) to all theatre lovers, theatregoers, theatre practitioners, and anybody who enjoys Shakespeare.' Robert Tanitch, What's on in London

This is the first stage history of Shakespeare's King Henry V to cover the play's theatrical life since its first performance in 1599. Staging this play has always been a political act, and the substantial introduction traces its theatrical interventions into conflicts from the Napoleonic Wars to Vietnam and the Falklands crisis, offering a complete account of the play's fortunes: from its absence in the seventeenth century to its dominant position as historical spectacle in the Victorian period, through twentieth-century productions, which include the popular films by Olivier and Branagh. Together they raise vital interpretative questions: is Henry V an epic of English nationalism, a knowing and cynical piece of power politics, or an anti-war manifesto? The volume also includes the play text, illustrations and detailed footnotes about major performances.

List of illustrations
Series editors' preface
List of abbreviations
Select chronology of English-language performances
Introduction
King Henry V and commentary
Index.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: plays & playwrights [DSG], Literary studies: c 1500 to c 1800 [DSBD], Theatre studies [AN]