The Regal Throne Power, Politics and Ribaldry A Guide to Shakespeare`s Richard II, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V

Nicholas Dobson

ISBN 10: 1789761646 / ISBN 13: 9781789761641

Published by Sussex Academic Press (UK), 2022

About this Item

559 pages. 9.75x6.75x1.25 inches. In Stock.

Seller Inventory # x-1789761646

Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Regal Throne Power, Politics and Ribaldry A Guide to Shakespeare`s Richard II, Henry IV Parts 1 and 2, and Henry V
• Publisher: Sussex Academic Press (UK)
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1789761646
• ISBN 13: 9781789761641
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Brand New
• Weight: 0.96 kilograms

About this title

Synopsis

If, advised essayist and critic William Hazlitt, we wish to know the force of human genius we should read Shakespeare. For if anyone profoundly understood the human condition in all its forms, it was he. Lovably drunken rogues, dysfunctional kings, cowardly preening braggarts, to nobly inspiring heroes. The remarkable series of plays engaged in under The Regal Throne moves from high political intrigue to lowlife bar-room badinage. From self-indulgent regal decline to elevated and inspirational kingly valour. From adolescent delinquency and father-son tensions to exaltedly noble redemption. The playwright launches us on our journey with the narcissistic Richard, rapidly sowing seeds of his own decline with his callously imperious behaviour. And the ruthlessly astute Bolingbroke returning from his banishment to take the sovereign's Crown and then his life. But Bolingbroke as Henry IV has little chance to enjoy his prize. For his tyranny breeds rebellion. Meanwhile in Cheapside, (and to his father's chagrin), the future Henry V, as adolescent Prince Hal, disports himself in seedy taverns amongst a gallery of Hogarthian lowlifes (including the comedic heavyweight Falstaff), while quietly planning a shrewdly redemptive personal remake as the exemplary war hero, Henry V. A rich tapestry indeed. But whilst Shakespeare's early modern English is reasonably understandable, many words and references aren't. For slang is constantly shape-shifting. And, particularly with Shakespeare's bar-room banter, it's helpful to know just what the characters are saying to and about each other. The author explains each scene of all four plays in detail with copious quotations from Shakespeare's text throughout and substantial hypertext explanatory notes. The Regal Throne is an invaluable companion for all who set sail on this vibrant Shakespearean voyage into power, politics, and ribaldry.

About the Author

Nicholas Dobson was a lawyer for thirty-five years, his first degree being English studies. Fascinated by Shakespeare's astounding breadth and depth of insight, the richness of his language, and his uncanny knowledge and instinct about the myriad nooks and crannies of the human condition, he was prompted to write a guide to the four plays where Shakespeares gallery of rogues, ne'er-do-wells and heroes engage in political rivalry and dark skulduggery.