The Cambridge Companion to Shakespeare’s History Plays

Shakespeare’s history plays have been performed more in recent years than ever before, in Britain, North America, and in Europe. This volume provides an accessible, wide-ranging and informed introduction to Shakespeare’s history and Roman plays. It is attentive throughout to the plays as they have been performed over the centuries since they were written. The first part offers accounts of the genre of the history play, of Renaissance historiography, of pageants and masques, and of women’s roles, as well as comparisons with history plays in Spain and the Netherlands. Chapters in the second part look at individual plays as well as other Shakespearean texts which are closely related to the histories. The Companion offers a full bibliography, genealogical tables, and a list of principal and recurrent characters. It is a comprehensive guide for students, researchers and theatre-goers alike.

• Chapters devoted to contexts and to individual plays • Broad interpretation of history, including Roman plays • Attention throughout to performances of the plays (plus illustrations)

Part I. Contexts: 1. The Shakespearean history play Michael Hattaway; 2. Shakespeare and the early modern history play A. J. Hoenselaars; 3. Pageants, masques, and history David M. Bergeron; 4. Elizabethan historiography and Shakespeare’s sources Dominique Goy-Blanquet; 5. Women’s roles in the Elizabethan history plays Phyllis Rackin; Part II. The Plays: 6. Plantagenets, Yorkists, Lancastrians, and Tudors: Edward III, 1-3 Henry VI, Richard III Janis Lull; 7. Historical legacy and fiction: the poetical reinvention of King Richard III Marie-Hélène Besnault and Michel Bitot; 8. King John: changing perspectives A. J. Piesse; 9. Richard II: Shakespeare and the languages of the stage Robyn Bolam; 10. Henry IV Parts one and two James C. Bulman; 11. King Henry V: ‘The quick forge and working house of thought’ Pamela Mason; 12. Shakespeare’s ancient Rome: difference and identity Robert S. Miola; 13. Shakespeare’s other historical plays R. A. Foakes; 14. Theatrical afterlives Stuart Hampton-Reeves; Part III. Reference Material: Recurrent characters; Family Trees: 1. The Early Plantagenets; 2. The House of Lancaster; 3. The House of York; Bibliography and further reading.

\'Its compendiousness and the high quality of essays dealing with virtually every aspect of Shakespeare and history make it relevant to anyone anywhere interested in Shakespeare\'s history plays.\' Around the Globe