Synopses & Reviews
King Henry VIII has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a new perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play, revealing it as a complex meditation on the progress of Reformation which sees English life since Henry VIII's day as a series of bewildering changes in national and personal allegiance and represents "history" as the product of varied and contradictory testimony. McMullan makes a powerful claim for the rehabilitation of
Henry VIII, providing the fullest performance history of any edition to date and reading the work not as a marginal "late" Shakespeare play but as a play which is paradigmatic of the achievement of Renaissance drama as a whole. His introduction emphasizes truth and conscience and the dramatic devices used to portray these themes. This edition's appendices elucidate the chronology for the events portrayed in
King Henry VIII and other source works. A scene from Beaumont and Fletcher's
A Maid's Tragedy, comments on music, a doubling chart, and other reference information are also included.
The Arden Shakespeare has developed a reputation as the pre-eminent critical edition of Shakespeare for its exceptional scholarship, reflected in the thoroughness of each volume. An introduction comprehensively contextualizes the play, chronicling the history and culture that surrounded and influenced Shakespeare at the time of its writing and performance, and closely surveying critical approaches to the work. Detailed appendices address problems like dating and casting, and analyze the differing Quarto and Folio sources. A full commentary by one or more of the plays foremost contemporary scholars illuminates the text, glossing unfamiliar terms and drawing from an abundance of research and expertise to explain allusions and significant background information. Highly informative and accessible, Arden offers the fullest experience of Shakespeare available to a reader.
Table of Contents
List of IllustrationsGeneral Editors' PrefacePreface INTRODUCTIONAuthenticities: performance history Date and early performances Performances 1660-1916 Performances 1916-2000All is true: cultural history Truth and topicality Royal reputations The conscience of the King Truth and temperance Truth and textuality Truth and tragicomedy The character of the Queen Hidden reformations Truth and topicality: codaOriginals: textual history Text and modernization Resources Sources Analogues Collaboration KING HENRY VIII (ALL IS TRUE) Longer notes APPENDICES1. Contextual chronology for the events of Henry VIII2. Comparative chronology (1603-13) for plays in the Fletcher and Shakespeare canons3. Attribution and composition4. The Maid's Tragedy5. Uncollected sources/analogues6. Music7 Doubling chart Abbreviations and references Abbreviations used in notes Works in the Shakespeare canon Works in the Fletcher canon Editions of Shakespeare collated Other works Modern productions cited Film/television productions cited Index
Synopsis
The Arden Shakespeare has long been acclaimed as the established scholarly edition of Shakespeare's work. Now being totally reedited for the third time, Arden editions offer the very best in contemporary scholarship. Each volume provides a clear and authoritative text, edited to the highest standards; detailed textual notes and commentary on the same page of the text; full contextual, illustrated introduction, including an in-depth survey of critical and performance approaches to the play; and selected bibliography.
Synopsis
King Henry VIII has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a new perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play, revealing it as a complex meditation on the progress of Reformation which sees English life since Henry VIII's day as a series of bewildering changes in national and personal allegiance and represents 'history' as the product of varied and contradictory testimony. McMullan makes a powerful claim for the rehabilitation of Henry VIII, providing the fullest performance history of any edition to date and reading the work not as a marginal 'late' Shakespeare play but as a play which is paradigmatic of the achievement of Renaissance drama as a whole.
Synopsis
King Henry VIII has one of the fullest theatrical histories of any play in the Shakespeare canon, yet has been consistently misrepresented, both in performance and in criticism. This edition offers a new perspective on this ironic, multi-layered, collaborative play, revealing it as a complex meditation on the progress of Reformation which sees English life since Henry VIII's day as a series of bewildering changes in national and personal allegiance and represents 'history' as the product of varied and contradictory testimony. McMullan makes a powerful claim for the rehabilitation of Henry VIII, providing the fullest performance history of any edition to date and reading the work not as a marginal 'late' Shakespeare play but as a play which is paradigmatic of the achievement of Renaissance drama as a whole. [This is a staggeringly brilliant, captivating edition that will undoubtedly occasion a huge surge of critical interest in this neglected play. For those of use who have never taken Henry VIII very seriously & perhaps dismissing it as a late collaborative play of no consequence or as conservative propaganda & McMullan's introduction is genuinely revelatory.' Eric Rasmussen, University of Nevada at Reno, Shakespeare Survey
About the Author
Gordon McMullan is a professor in the Department of English at King's College London.
Table of Contents
List of illustrations General Editors preface Preface Introduction Authenticities: performance history - Date and early performances - Performances 1660-1916 - Performances 1916-2000 All is true: cultural history - Truth and topicality - Royal reputations - The conscience of the King - Truth and temperance - Truth and tragicomedy - The character of the Queen - Hidden reformations - Truth and topicality: coda Originals: textual history - Text and modernization - Resources - Sources - Analogues - Collaboration KING HENRY VIII (ALL IS TRUE) Longer notes Appendices 1) Contextual chronology for the events of Henry VIII 2) Comparative chronology (1603-13) for plays in Fletcher and Shakespeare canons 3) Attribution and composition 4) The Maids Tragedy 5) Uncollected sources/analogues 6) Music 7) Doubling chart Abbreviations and References Index