Henri IV

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.2

Word count: 196K words
Chapters: 20

Summary

Project Gutenberg was the first provider of free electronic books, or eBooks. Michael Hart, founder of Project Gutenberg, invented eBooks in 1971 and his memory continues to inspire the creation of eBooks and related technologies today.Henri IV (1re partie) by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: French, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Sep 24, 2007

Editor's review

This is the French translation of the first part of Shakespeare's history play Henry IV, in the public domain as an e-book. The play revolves around the political turmoil and father-son relationship during the reign of Henry IV, combining court intrigue and battlefield clashes with lighter passages from comic figures such as Falstaff. Serious and humorous tones interweave, making it an important work for understanding Shakespeare's craft in the history play genre. The French translation is suitable for comparing against the English original to appreciate translation choices, and also serves as French reading practice material. When reading, pay attention to the arc of Prince Hal's transformation and Falstaff's verbal wit: the former embodies the tension between royal responsibility and personal indulgence, while the latter carries a wealth of puns and colloquial humor. As a public-domain electronic text, the formatting is relatively plain; it is advisable to use it alongside annotated editions or introductory materials rather than as a sole starting point.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers studying Shakespeare's history plays who want to understand the structure of Henry IV, Part 1
Learners with French reading ability who wish to use the French text for language practice
Readers of historical literature interested in late medieval English kingship and rebellion
University teachers and students needing a public-domain electronic text for teaching or research comparison

Not a good fit for

General readers with no French at all who want to read a Chinese translation
Readers expecting modern-novel-style continuous narrative who are unfamiliar with the play format
Readers who only want light comedy and prefer not to engage with political and military threads

Reading tips

Start with a plot summary and character list to sort out the royal family, rebel faction, and Falstaff threads before entering the text.
Read key soliloquies and comic scenes against the English original or a Chinese translation to appreciate the French translator's word choices.
Read Prince Hal's scenes in sequence to observe his character development and the tension in his relationship with Henry IV.
Briefly annotate historical names and places in advance to avoid breaking the reading rhythm due to unfamiliar background.

About the publisher

Project Gutenberg United States · Founded in 1971

Project Gutenberg is a digital publishing project focused on public-domain ebooks. Its publishing direction centers on classic literary works whose copyright has expired, covering genres such as poetry, drama, fiction, and epic. Representative books include Lyrical Ballads by Wordsworth and Coleridge, Proust's Du côté de chez Swann, Shakespeare's Macbeth and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare, Homer's The Iliad, Dante's La Divina Comèdia: Purgatòri, Cervantes's The History of Don Quixote, Volume 2, and Grahame's The Wind in the Willows. Its author resources consist mainly of classic Western writers such as Wordsworth, Proust, Shakespeare, Homer, Dante, Cervantes, Grahame, and Tolstoy. Its publishing feature is the provision of freely accessible ebooks in EPUB and Kindle formats; it is not a traditional publisher, and publicly available information is limited.

FAQ

Which work of Shakespeare is this Henri IV?

It is the French translation of the first part of Shakespeare's history play Henry IV, corresponding to the English title Henry IV, Part 1. The play mainly depicts the suppression of rebellion during Henry IV's reign and the relationship between Prince Hal and Falstaff, and is one of the most widely read of Shakespeare's history plays.

Can I read this book if my French is not good?

You can try, but the bar is not low. The text is a French play script containing a great deal of dialogue, puns, and historical names; without basic French it will be difficult. It is advisable to first learn the plot from a Chinese or English translation, then read the French text in comparison, or use a bilingual annotated edition.

Is this a paper book or an e-book? Is the content complete?

This is a public-domain e-book provided by Project Gutenberg, a free electronic text with relatively plain formatting. It contains the main text of the French translation of Henry IV, Part 1, but does not include the detailed annotations, introductions, or scholarly appendices common in modern editions; readers should supplement with background materials.

Do I need to know English history first to read this play?

Not systematically, but knowing the general background will make it much smoother. The play involves the nobility's rebellion after Henry IV's accession and warfare on the Welsh and Scottish borders. Reading a brief historical background or plot summary beforehand can help distinguish the royal camp from the rebel camp and reduce confusion caused by the many names.

Comments

Find this book

This site is an index: you start “Search all sources” in your browser, and the entries it lists all point to third-party sites; please judge their availability yourself.

About the author

William Shakespeare Author · English · 1564–1616

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was the greatest playwright, poet and actor of the English Renaissance. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, he is known as the "Bard of Avon." He wrote roughly thirty-seven to thirty-nine plays, one hundred and fifty-four sonnets and narrative poems. His representative works include Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet. His works span tragedy, comedy and history play, distinguished by rich, poetic language and profound characterization. His explorations of human nature, power, love and fate have had a lasting influence, and his works have been translated into many languages and circulated widely around the world.