Henry V

This article is about Shakespeare's play. For other uses, see Henry V (disambiguation).

Henry V, one of William Shakespeare's plays, is his 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)

Helen Hayes Awards

Nomination: " Outstanding Lighting Design, Resident Production" for Andrew F. Griffin

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

Performance materials

Characters in the Play

• Henry V, King of England
• Thomas, Duke of Exeter, uncle to the King
• Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester (brother to the King)
• John, Duke of Bedford (brother to the King)
• Thomas, Duke of Clarence (brother to the King)
• Duke of York (cousin to the King)
• Earl of Westmoreland (cousin to the King)
• Earl of Cambridge (cousin to the King)
• Earl of Warwick
• Earl of Salisbury
• Earl of Huntington
• Lord Scroop of Masham
• Sir Thomas Grey
• Hostess Quickly
• Pistol
• Nym
• Bardolph
• Boy, their servant
• Sir Thomas Erpingham
• Captain Fluellen
• Captain Gower
• Captain MacMorris
• Captain Jamy
• English heralds
• John Bates
• Alexander Court
• Michael Williams
• Bishop of Canterbury
• Bishop of Ely
• King of France
• Queen Isabel of France
• Katherine, Princess of France
• Alice, a gentlewoman attending on Katherine
• Dauphin (i.e., Prince) of France
• Duke of Berri
• Duke of Brittany
• Duke of Orléans
• Duke of Bourbon
• Duke of Burgundy
• Constable of France
• Lord Grandpré
• Lord Rambures
• Lord Beaumont
• Montjoy, French herald
• French ambassadors to England
• Monsieur Le Fer, a French soldier
• Governor of Harfleur
• Lords, Attendants, Soldiers, French Prisoners, Messengers

Notes

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