Henry V

Henry V is Shakespeare's most famous "war play"; it includes the storied English victory over the French at Agincourt. Some of it glorifies war, especially the choruses and Henry's speeches urging his troops into battle. But we also hear bishops conniving for war to postpone a bill that would tax the church, and soldiers expecting to reap profits from the conflict. Even in the speeches of Henry and his nobles, there are many chilling references to the human cost of war.

Scholars believe Shakespeare wrote Henry V in 1599. It was published as a quarto in 1600. Among the sources are Raphael Holinshed’s Chronicles and an early play, The Famous Victories of Henry the Fifth.

Productions at the Folger

• Henry V (Folger Theatre, 2013)

Early editions

First Folio

LUNA: First Folio: h1r - k2r

Hamnet: STC 22273 Fo. 1 no. 68

Second Folio

LUNA: Second Folio: i3r - h4r

Hamnet: STC 22274 Fo. 2 no. 07

First Quarto

LUNA: First Quarto

Hamnet: STC 22289

Second Quarto

LUNA: Second Quarto

Hamnet: STC 22290

Third Quarto

LUNA: Third Quarto

Hamnet: STC 22291 Copy 1

Modern editions

Henry V can be read online with Folger Digital Texts and purchased from Simon and Schuster.

Hamnet link to Folger Edition: PR2753 .M6 2003 copy 2 v.11

Notes

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