About the book
Melchiori offers a fresh approach to the text of The Second Part of King Henry IV, which he sees as an unplanned sequel to the First Part, itself a 'remake' of an old, non-Shakespearean play. The Second Part deliberately exploits the popular success of Sir John Falstaff, introduced in Part One; the resulting rich humour gives a comic dimension to the play which makes it a unique blend of history, morality play and comedy. Among modern editions of the play this is the one most firmly based on the quarto. It presents an eminently actable text, by showing how Shakespeare's own choices are superior for practical purposes to suggested emendations, and by keeping interference in the original stage directions to a minimum, in order to respect, as Shakespeare did, the players' freedom. This updated edition includes a new introductory section by Adam Hansen describing recent stage, film and critical interpretations.
Editions of The Second Part of King Henry IV
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780521869263
- Paperback
- ISBN 9780521689502
Read an Excerpt
Melchiori offers a fresh approach to the text of The Second Part of King Henry IV, which he sees as an unplanned sequel to the First Part, itself a 'remake' of an old, non-Shakespearean play. The Second Part deliberately exploits the popular success of Sir John Falstaff, introduced in Part One; the resulting rich humour gives a comic dimension to the play which makes it a unique blend of history, morality play and comedy. Among modern editions of the play this is the one most firmly based on the quarto. It presents an eminently actable text, by showing how Shakespeare's own choices are superior for practical purposes to suggested emendations, and by keeping interference in the original stage directions to a minimum, in order to respect, as Shakespeare did, the players' freedom. This updated edition includes a new introductory section by Adam Hansen describing recent stage, film and critical interpretations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Second Part of King Henry IV about?
Melchiori offers a fresh approach to the text of The Second Part of King Henry IV, which he sees as an unplanned sequel to the First Part, itself a 'remake' of an old, non-Shakespearean play. The Second Part deliberately exploits the popular success of Sir John Falstaff, introduced in Part One; the resulting rich humour gives a comic dimension to the play which makes it a unique blend of history, morality play and comedy. Among modern editions of the play this is the one most firmly based on the quarto. It presents an eminently actable text, by showing how Shakespeare's own choices are superior for practical purposes to suggested emendations, and by keeping interference in the original stage directions to a minimum, in order to respect, as Shakespeare did, the players' freedom. This updated edition includes a new introductory section by Adam Hansen describing recent stage, film and critical interpretations.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in The Second Part of King Henry IV?
Biography, Literature and Literary studies > Plays, playscripts, drama > Classic plays / drama
Where can I read a sample of The Second Part of King Henry IV?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780521869263
Is The Second Part of King Henry IV part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series The New Cambridge Shakespeare
Who is/are the Author/s of the book The Second Part of King Henry IV?
William Shakespeare
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
The Second Part of King Henry IV is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780521869263) and paperback(ISBN 9780521689502)