The Life of Sir John Falstaff
With a Biography of the Knight from Authentic Sources

A delightful 1858 fictional biography of that most colourful of Shakespeare's characters, built around a series of inspired etchings.

Robert Barnabas Brough (Author), George Cruikshank (Illustrated by)

9781108057332, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 27 June 2013

258 pages, 20 b/w illus.
24.4 x 17 x 1.4 cm, 0.42 kg

Remembered for both his satirical and serious work, Robert Barnabas Brough (1828–60) was a playwright, journalist, poet and founder member of the Savage Club. Built around a series of inspired etchings by the celebrated artist George Cruikshank (1792–1878), this is a delightful fictional biography, 'from authentic sources', of that most colourful of Shakespeare's characters. We hear how our hero was descended from the great Saxon leader Hundwulf Falstaff, how the name is a corruption of 'False-thief', of his adventures with his beloved Prince Hal, and of Christmas 1412 with the Whittington family. Henry V's terrible rejection of him - 'I know thee not, old man' - is touchingly depicted, as are the episode of the laundry basket and other misadventures at Windsor, along with his sad death at the Boar's Head in 1415. First published in 1858, this book is a must-read for every lover of this larger-than-life figure.

Preface
Part I. 1352–65: 1. Introductory chapter
2. Birth and genealogy of Sir John Falstaff
3. On the trick played by little Jack Falstaff
4. Of Jack Falstaff's coming to London
Part II. 1381: 1. How Mr John Falstaff came into his property
Part III. 1410: 1. For the most part a treatise on heroes and knights-errant
2. How Sir John Falstaff planned the famous Gadshill expedition
3. The battle of Gadshill
4. The day after the battle
5. Historic dissertation upon the great civil war
6. How Sir John Falstaff won the battle of Shrewsbury
Part IV. 1410–13: 1. Of the signal gained by Sir John Falstaff
2. The same subject continued
3. Sir John Falstaff an author
4. Warlike strategy of Sir John Falstaff
5. Visit to Justice Shallow's
6. On the magnanimity of Sir John Falstaff
7. Doubts on the genius and testimony of Shakespeare
8. Mildness of the spring season in 1413
9. Inauguration of the new regime
10. Coronation of Henry the Fifth
Part V. 1413–15: 1. Sir John Falstaff in exile
2. The end of the life of Sir John Falstaff.

Subject Areas: Literary studies: general [DSB]