Shakespeare The Histories (Paperback - 2016)

The History plays established Shakespeare's reputation as an enormously popular and dramatic storyteller, demonstrating his skill in drawing such astonishing characters as Richard III and Sir John Falstaff. Featuring detailed analyses of extracts, John Blades guides the student through four of Shakespeare's most compelling Histories.
Part I of this stimulating study:
■ provides clear and engaging close readings of passages from Richard 11, Henry IV Parts 1, 2 and Richard III
■ examines major themes, characters, language and Shakespeare's dramatic techniques
■ offers suggestions for further work and summarises the methods of analysis.
Part II supplies essential background material. including:
■ a detailed survey of Shakespeare's literary and historical contexts
■ samples of criticism from leading scholars.
With a helpful Glossary and Further Reading section, this lucid study is ideal for anyone who wishes to appreciate and explore the remarkable writing of Shakespeare's History plays for themselves.

John Blades has lectured in English Literature at the re at the universities of Leeds and Durham. His publications indude Shakespeare: The Sonnets (2007) and Wordsworth and Coleridge. Lyrical Ballads (2004), both also in the Analysing Texts series.