King Henry VI Part 1: Third Series: Pt. 1 (The Arden Shakespeare Third Series) Paperback – 4 May 2000

Excellent

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.

“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”.

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!

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!

Great read, inspiring stuff, what a guy that Shakespeare bloke was. Takes you on a journey of discover, truly cracking.

I was very glad to get this free of charge, and enjoyed reading it. I plan to recommend it to my friends. Thank you.

think rather strong play when compared not to mature Shakespeare but to similarly early works (it seems todate 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.

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.

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

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.

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!