Shakespeare's English Kings: History, Chronicle, and DramaFar more than any professional historian, Shakespeare is responsible for whatever notions most of us possess about English medieval history. Anyone who appreciates the dramatic action of Shakespeare's history plays but is confused by much of the historical detail will welcome this guide to the Richards, Edwards, Henrys, Warwicks and Norfolks who ruled and fought across Shakespeare's page and stage. Not only theater-goers and students, but today's film-goers who want to enrich their understanding of film adaptations of plays such as Richard III and Henry V will find this revised edition of Shakespeare's English Kings to be an essential companion. Saccio's engaging narrative weaves together three threads: medieval English history according to the Tudor chroniclers who provided Shakespeare with his material, that history as understood by modern scholars, and the action of the plays themselves. Including a new preface, a revised further reading list, genealogical charts, an appendix of names and titles, and an index, the second edition of Shakespeare's English Kings offers excellent background reading for all of the ten history plays. |
What people are saying - Write a review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - AlCracka - LibraryThingMy summer project was to read each of Shakespeare's ten history plays along with their respective chapters in this book. I failed, in that I just couldn't be assed to read King John. Screw that play ... Read full review
Contents
HISTORY AND HISTORY PLAYS | 3 |
THE FALL OF THE KING | 17 |
THE KING EMBATTLED | 37 |
Copyright | |
11 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
appears archbishop army authority battle Beaufort became become bishop brother brought Buckingham called cause century certainly character charge Charles chief chroniclers claim Clarence commons council court crown daughter death died duke dynastic earl early Edward Elizabeth England English executed fact father final force France French given Gloucester hand heir held Henry VI Henry VIII Henry's historians Holinshed important inheritance John killed king king's kingdom Lancaster Lancastrian land late later London lords March Margaret marriage married matter months Mortimer murder Neville Norfolk Northumberland parliament Percy persons Plantagenet play plot political prince quarrel queen reign Richard Richard II Roses royal rule scene secure Shakespeare Somerset sons success Suffolk Thomas throne tion took treason Tudor turn Wales Wars Warwick Woodvilles York Yorkist young