Bibliograph

Henry VI, part I, a history, William Shakespeare

Type

Label

Henry VI, part I, a history, William Shakespeare

Language

eng

Index

no index present

Literary Form

non fiction

Main title

Henry VI, part I

Medium

electronic resource

Nature of contents

dictionaries

Responsibility statement

William Shakespeare

Series statement

HarperPerennial classics

Sub title

a history

Summary

Spanning approximately fifty years beginning with the coronation of the king upon the death of Henry V and concluding with the fall of the House of Lancaster, William Shakespeare's Henry VI trilogy reveals the king's struggles under the pressures of prolonged wars with his foreign territories in France and Ireland, and the civil war that threatens his reign. Henry VI, Part I opens with a monarchy in chaos following the unexpected death of Henry V. There is little faith that the as-yet uncrowned Henry VI will be able to control the worsening situation in France as the French Dauphin rebels, and Joan of Arc takes command of his army. While England battles to hold on to its French territories, the petty quarrel between Richard Plantagenet and the Duke of Somerset has gained momentum and threatens Henry's tenuous hold on power. Known as "The Bard of Avon," William Shakespeare is arguably the greatest English-language writer known. Enormously popular during his life, Shakespeare's works continue to resonate more than three centuries after his death, as has his influence on theatre and literature. Shakespeare's innovative use of character, language, and experimentation with romance as tragedy served as a foundation for later playwrights and dramatists, and some of his most famous lines of dialogue have become part of everyday speech

Target audience

adult

Classification