Four Great Histories: Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, Henry V, and Richard III (Dover Thrift Editions) [Paperback]

William Shakespeare (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Thrift Editions | Publication Date: January 19, 2006

Beginning with the madcap adventures of Prince Hal in Henry IV,

Part I, through spectacular battles and tender love scenes in Henry IV, Part II, and concluding with his reign as the ideal monarch in Henry V, Shakespeare masterfully combines comedy and actual events from 15th-century England in these 3 outstanding plays. Also includes the ever-villainous Richard III.

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Dover Thrift edition edition (January 19, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486446298
• ISBN-13: 978-0486446295
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #723,305 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great "Can't Miss" Presentation of Shakespeare, February 20, 2007

By 

Big D (Auburn, AL. USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Henry IV , Parts One and Two(No Fear Shakespeare) (Paperback)

With the original text on the left page, the easy to understand modern text on the right-hand page, this is a can't miss edition. The best of both worlds, his and ours, and Henry IV never fails to deliver.

We all need our Hals and Hotspurs. And, yes, we need our Falstaffs as well.

An exceptional presentation of an exceptional work.

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars No Line Numbers, October 18, 2008

By 

W. W. Yang - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Four Great Histories: Henry IV Part I, Henry IV Part II, Henry V, and Richard III (Dover Thrift Editions) (Paperback)

I got this book because I needed Henry IV, Part 1 & Part 2, and Henry V for class. Unfortunately, there are NO line numbers in Henry IV, PArt 1 & Part 2, NO line numbers in Richard III. The ONLY play with line numbers is Henry V. How in the world do you publish Shakespeare without line numbers? If you're reading for your own enjoyment, I guess it would be okay, but definitely not for class!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars There are line numbers!, December 20, 2011

By 

Barbara W. Shanley "barbinvista" (San Diego, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Henry IV , Parts One and Two(No Fear Shakespeare) (Paperback)

This review is to make clear, that unlike what one previous reviewer said, the book does in fact have line numbers. Not every line is numbered, but every fifth. This makes it easy to find things. This version is also very nice with the modern English translation next to the old English. I would recommend it. We used it for a high school Shakespeare class with success.