Henry V

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

4.7

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 V by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: French, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Oct 3, 2008

Editor's review

Henri V is the French translation of Shakespeare's history play Henry V, a public-domain eBook from Project Gutenberg. The play tells how the young King Henry V transforms from a wayward prince into a wise ruler, leads an expedition to France, and wins against the odds at Agincourt. It is the most patriotic and heroic of Shakespeare's history plays. The French translation lets readers observe how the narrative of the Hundred Years' War, as told in the English-speaking world, is rendered into French—a perspective that is itself revealing. The play combines famous pre-battle soliloquies with camp life and comic banter among common characters, setting solemnity and humor side by side. As a public-domain electronic edition, it contains no notes or introduction; the barriers to reading lie in the French language and the historical background. It suits readers interested in English history plays, the Hundred Years' War, or the French reception history of Shakespeare, and is also suitable for French reading practice.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in Shakespeare's history plays and medieval English history
Learners with intermediate or higher French reading ability who want to read classics in French
Scholars studying the French translation and reception of English and French historical subjects
Theater enthusiasts who enjoy themes of war and kingship and can handle the length of a history play

Not a good fit for

Beginners with no French who need Chinese annotations
Academic readers expecting detailed historical notes and introductions
Readers who prefer modern subjects or light reading and are uncomfortable with the density of history-play dialogue

Reading tips

Before reading, learn the basic background of the Battle of Agincourt and the Hundred Years' War; this significantly reduces difficulty.
You may first read a Chinese translation or watch a stage production to understand the plot, then read the French original to appreciate its language and power.
Focus on the pre-battle soliloquy and notice how the king uses speech to unite soldiers from different classes.
History plays have many characters; keep a simple character-relationship chart while reading to avoid confusing the factions.

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

What is Henry V about?

The play tells how Henry V, after ascending the throne, campaigns in France, wins against the odds at Agincourt, and ultimately marries a French princess, showing his transformation from a wastrel to a wise ruler.

This is the French version; is it suitable for French learning?

As a literary classic, its language is rich in poetry and rhetoric, making it suitable for close reading by intermediate or higher French learners; beginners should first read a Chinese translation or a bilingual edition.

What historical background should I know before reading?

It is advisable to understand the basic course of the Hundred Years' War and the Battle of Agincourt, as well as the succession between Henry IV and Henry V, to understand the characters' motivations.

Does the Gutenberg edition have notes?

Project Gutenberg provides public-domain electronic texts that generally contain no scholarly notes, introductions, or historical background; readers need to consult reference materials themselves.

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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.