Book Review: The History of Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare

Author: William Shakespeare
Title: The History of Henry IV, Part 1
Publication Info: New York : Simon & Schuster Paperbacks, 2020. [Originated circa 1597]
Summary/Review:

Of the Shakespearean English histories I’ve read so far, this one is the least stand alone.  It definitely feels like it’s setting up Henry IV, Part 2 and Henry V.  King Henry IV has a couple of problems: first, he falls out with Henry Percy – a.k.a. Hotspur – who allies with Welsh and Scottish rebels against the king.  Meanwhile, his son Prince Hal is leading a licentious life with his rowdy friend Sir John Falstaff.  I’ve known from reading about Shakespeare that Falstaff was an incredibly popular character, cowardly yet quick-witted, but I found him kind of irritating.  Hopefully, I’ll find him more entertaining in upcoming plays.  The various storylines come together with Prince Hal regaining the king’s affections by fighting the rebels at the Battle of Shrewsbury.

Rating: ***

I’m reading every Shakespeare play, one per month, in chronological order.  Here’s my progress thus far:

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

The Taming of the Shrew

Henry VI, Part 1

Henry VI, Part 2

Henry VI, Part 3

Titus Andronicus

Richard III

The Comedy of Errors

Love’s Labours’ Lost

Richard II

Romeo and Juliet

A Midsummer’s Night’s Dream

The Life and Death of King John

The Merchant of Venice

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