King Henry the Eighth

William ShakespeareProject Gutenberg · United StatesDec 2019

3.8

Word count: 147K words
Chapters: 15

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.King Henry the Eighth by William ShakespeareAuthor: Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616,Language: English, Class: PR: Language and Literatures: English literature, Release Date: Dec 1, 1997

Editor's review

King Henry the Eighth is a late history play by Shakespeare, written with Fletcher. Through events such as the Duke of Buckingham's false accusation, the repudiation of Queen Katherine, the fall of Cardinal Wolsey, and the coronation of Anne Boleyn, it presents the machinations of the court and the rise and fall of its figures. No single protagonist carries the play; instead, several centers of power advance in turn, giving it the structure of a historical panorama. It offers a detailed portrayal of the arrogance of powerful ministers, the authority of the monarch, and the conflict with personal conscience. The scenes of Queen Katherine's trial and farewell are especially moving, with language that is dignified and deeply affecting. As a history play, it extends the Tudor narrative alongside works such as Henry V, and will appeal to readers interested in English history or Shakespeare's late style. Readers need not rush after plot; they may attend to the self-justifications and reversals of fortune that accompany shifts of power. The electronic edition makes it easy to search characters and historical facts, and is well suited to classroom or reading-group selections.

Who it's for

A good fit for

General readers interested in the history of the Tudor dynasty
Students studying Shakespeare's late history plays and collaborative works
Teachers who need to discuss the theme of power in class or reading groups
Theater lovers who enjoy court intrigue and the fate of characters

Not a good fit for

Beginners expecting a linear narrative with a single protagonist
Readers unaccustomed to early modern English in the original
Readers who want a quick account of Henry VIII's life rather than a play

Reading tips

Begin with the list of characters and clarify the relationships among Buckingham, Wolsey, Katherine, and Anne before entering the text.
Read closely the scenes of Katherine's trial and farewell to feel the dignity and sorrow in the lines.
Read in comparison with Henry V to observe changes in the narrative focus of Shakespeare's history plays.
After reading, sort out the reasons for each minister's fall and understand the play's presentation of the unpredictability of power.

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

Did Shakespeare write this play alone?

Scholars generally agree that King Henry the Eighth is a collaboration between Shakespeare and John Fletcher, and the style and structure of some scenes show signs of co-authorship. Readers may note differences in language style from scene to scene.

Can I understand it without a background in English history?

You can, but it is advisable first to learn the basic background of Henry VIII's divorce, the Reformation, and court factional strife; otherwise character motives and the causes of events can become confusing. Browsing the character list and a brief historical summary beforehand is enough.

What kind of reading does the electronic edition suit?

The electronic edition makes it easy to search character names and keywords, and is suitable for reading against the character list or for selecting passages in class. It is advisable to look over the contents and character list before reading straight through and to check back as you go, reducing confusion caused by the large number of characters.

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.