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King Henry VI Part 1 (Arden Shakespeare: Third Series) 3rd Edition

by William Shakespeare (Author), E. Burns (Editor)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 143 ratings
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A fresh look at a play usually regarded as the first component of a three-part historical epic, this edition argues that Henry VI Part 1 is a 'prequel', a freestanding piece that returns for ironic and dramatic effect to a story already familiar to its audience. The play's ingenious use of stage space is closely analysed, as is its manipulation of a series of setpiece combats to give a coherent syntax of action. Discussion of the dramatic structure created by the opposing figures of Talbot and Jeanne la Pucelle, and exploration of the critical controversies surrounding the figure of Jeanne, lead to a reflection on the nature of the history play as genre in the 1590s.
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  1. ISBN-10
    1903436435
  2. ISBN-13
    978-1903436431
  3. Edition
    3rd
  4. Publisher
    The Arden Shakespeare
  5. Publication date
    May 4, 2000
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.06 x 0.75 x 7.81 inches
  8. Print length
    360 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English dramatist, poet, and actor, generally regarded as the greatest playwright of all time.

ANN THOMPSON is Emeritus Professor in English at King' s College London UK.

David Scott Kastan is the George M. Bodman Professor of English at Yale University, USA.

Henry Woudhuysen is Rector of Lincoln College, Oxford, UK.

Professor Richard Proudfoot served as Senior General Editor of the Arden Shakespeare for 35 years, until his retirement from King's in 1999. In 2001 The Arden Shakespeare published Proudfoot's Shakespeare: Text, Stage and Canon a critical overview of the scholarly achievements made in the field of Shakespeare studies by the end of the twentieth century.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ The Arden Shakespeare; 3rd edition (May 4, 2000)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 360 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1903436435
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1903436431
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 13.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.06 x 0.75 x 7.81 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 143 ratings

About the authors

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  1. William Shakespeare

    William Shakespeare

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

    William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.

    Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and was baptised on 26 April 1564. Thought to have been educated at the local grammar school, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he went on to have three children, at the age of eighteen, before moving to London to work in the theatre. Two erotic poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece were published in 1593 and 1594 and records of his plays begin to appear in 1594 for Richard III and the three parts of Henry VI. Shakespeare's tragic period lasted from around 1600 to 1608, during which period he wrote plays including Hamlet and Othello. The first editions of the sonnets were published in 1609 but evidence suggests that Shakespeare had been writing them for years for a private readership.

    Shakespeare spent the last five years of his life in Stratford, by now a wealthy man. He died on 23 April 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623.

    (The portrait details: The Chandos portrait, artist and authenticity unconfirmed. NPG1, © National Portrait Gallery, London)

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  2. A. L. Rowse

    A. L. Rowse

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    Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

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Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
143 global ratings
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Top reviews from the United States

Eric Schissel (Kindle)
5.0 out of 5 stars Often criticized but I
Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019
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think rather strong play when compared not to mature Shakespeare but to similarly early works (it seems to
date from "by 1595 and probably by 1592" - see Wikipedia e.g.) by comparable playwrights- I suspect. Put another way, in an innocent - ear performance, without Shakespearean expectations, it comes off as long (naught wrong with, once…), powerful in parts, well-characterized, relatively and more than less.
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Franklin L. Greene
4.0 out of 5 stars The good guys win
Reviewed in the United States on November 30, 2014
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Continuation and end of parts I and II. spoiler alert! The good guys win. First real introduction to Duke of Glouster, later Richard III. His speeches and actions are a clue to what happend Richard III.
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Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars I find it engaging. It exemplifies the Bard's usual ...
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2017
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I find it engaging. It exemplifies the Bard's usual depth of insight into the human condition, often condensed into a line or couplet, and his humor never disappoints Since it's one of his earlier Chronicle History plays, readers my compare it unfavorably with his later better-known plays. But his craftmanship shines through. It probably helps that I am in a discussion group, where our conversation enhances the experience of Shakespeare
One person found this helpful
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M. Charlene Colston
3.0 out of 5 stars Part 3 provides the background for Richard III
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2013
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King Henry, Part 3, is the best of the King Henry VI plays and provides the background and serves as the foundation for King Richard III.
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Dylan Bray
5.0 out of 5 stars Shakespeare has it on lockdown
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016
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The horrors of the war of the roses, vaulting ambition of a series of dukes, a prayerful king and a businesswoman queen. This play has it all. It ends in such a depressing but true tone of the cyclical nature of the next series of murders and wars and for what!
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Megan
5.0 out of 5 stars Arden it the edition to choose for Shakespeare
Reviewed in the United States on December 28, 2012
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If you are a student of drama and/ or Shakespeare Arden is the best edition for graduate work (Norton for undergraduate work and Oxford is making a good show for either).
3 people found this helpful
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Mark Streeter
4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting study of a weak king
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2013
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Henry VI trilogy is not often played, but its important as the earliest of Shakespeare's incursion into British History as dramatic stoock. This edition, as with many of these free or low price offerings, is difficult to navigate.
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Ren
5.0 out of 5 stars Historical plays
Reviewed in the United States on May 31, 2015
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I suggest reading parts 1 and 2 first... Actually, I suggest reading all the historical plays of Shakespeare. They are worth it.
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Top reviews from other countries

MJAH
5.0 out of 5 stars 5 star
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 3, 2022
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Excellent
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John
5.0 out of 5 stars Good critical edition of the lesser of the Henry VI’s
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 11, 2019
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As all Arden editions, a full introduction to the history of the play, with a good depth of critical notes from each page of the play, which gives a greater understanding of hidden and added meanings within the texts.
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GJC
4.0 out of 5 stars Power, the test of a man's character
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 3, 2016
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“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power.” Abraham Lincoln.
This fits well with Shakespeare’s Henry VI part 3.
The plot picks up were Part 2 ends. Henry VI would probably have been a good king in a time of peace but remains ineffective as a king in time of war. Queen Margaret leads the forces loyal to her husband that she might secure the throne for her son. Her treatment of Richard of York is brutal and this brutality sets the tone for subsequent battles during the ‘War of the Roses’. It is estimated that 28000 died at the battle of Towton, making it the bloodiest civil conflict in English history. Shakespeare relates with great pathos a soldier who carries a dead enemy combatant from the field only to discover he has killed his own father when he removes the dead man’s helmet. Immediately, another soldier brings another dead man from the thick of the battle and upon removing the dead man’s armour finds he has killed his only son. The battle of Tewkesbury is effectively the final battle in the war of the roses that sees the Prince of Wales killed and Richard (the younger son of Richard of York and later king Richard III) immediately speed off to London to dispatch the imprisoned Henry VI. Following the battle Edward the eldest son of Richard of York ascends the throne and becomes King Edward IV. Shakespeare injects a comic scene at the palace as King Edward banters with the widow, Lady Elizabeth Grey, whom he takes as queen.
However, behind all this is the real star in the play, Richard, the Kings younger brother. As Talbot was the hero in part 1 and Humphrey, the good guy in part 2. Richard shines as the villain in part 3. Richard, now given the title, ‘Duke of Gloster’, is the spider weaving his web to entangle, entrap and kill off all those who would stand between him and the throne, even those in his own family.
Next up, Richard III, also available as a free download. Well done to the ardent fans that put this together and make it freely available on Kindle at no cost.
For those who prefer to watch rather than read, Benedict Cumberbatch was excellent as Richard III in BBC’s 2016 “The Hollow Crown”.
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Alice
5.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for auditions!
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 19, 2013
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For an audition I have coming up I'm reading Queen Margaret's 'Brave Warriors' speech, and I decided I'd make an effort to read the whole play for some context. The language is relatively simple for Shakespeare, so there's no real need for footnotes. Essentially good, clean, and simple.

Not bad for a free product!
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denhamdevil
4.0 out of 5 stars an old friend
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 12, 2012
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The Folio Society published the complete works of Shakespeare with designs from stage productions over a period of years. As a young man I started collecting them, but over the years I dropped my membership of Folio and never completed the set. Now, thanks to Amazon, I am able to complete the set. I am a pensioner so have little spare money, but am slowly(or not so slowly) building the collection with fabulous choices of volumes from cheap and tatty to expensive rare editions ( not for me!) with the price reflecting the condition, and am thrilled to see my shelf filling. These are beautiful books. The designs, which are from contemporary productions, really bring the plays to life. Especially when, as with this set of Henry VI, I saw the original production the designs were created for. This was the legendary Stratford staging called 'The Wars of the Roses' comprising Henry VI divide into two and Richard III and starring such great names as Peggy Ashcroft, Ian Holm, David Warner and Donald Sinden. As poor students we went to Stratford and saw Henry VI on Friday night, Edward IV on Saturday afternoon and stood for Richard III on Saturday night. What an adventure! To see Miss Ashcroft age from 18 to 80 in 2 days was something I'll never forget. And now thanks to Amazon I'm able to have the plays with the designs. It seems to me such a good idea to be able to find old volumes through Amazon and to be able to contact bookshops all over the country ( and in the States) that otherwise I would never find. With nearly all the books they arrive in good condition in no time at all. Only once did the wrong edition arrive and then the bookshop was so very charming about the mistake that I was only sorry they didn't have the copy I wanted so I couldn't do business with them. I have about 12 plays to go although one or two are going to be hard to find. Then I plan to start collecting other authors. This could go on forever!
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