Edited introduced & annotated by Cedric Watts Research Professor of English Literature University of Sussex The Wordsworth Classics' Shakespeare Series with Henry V as its inaugral volume presents a newly-edited sequence of William Shakespeare's works The textual editing endeavours to take account of recent scholarship while giving the material a careful reappraisal Henry V is the most famous & influential of Shakespeare's history plays Its powerful patriotic rhetoric has resounded down the ages gaining eloquent expression in Laurence Olivier's renowned film Henry himself astute & charismatic who led his band of brothers' to victory in the Battle of Agincourt could indeed seem to be this star of England' In recent decades the play has attracted increasing critical attention & is now highly controversial Kenneth Branagh's film-production reflected the changing valuation Does this play have a sceptical sub-text which subverts its patriotism? Is Henry's achievement beset by irony? Has current scepticism distorted a predominantly & proudly nationalistic drama? Henry V demonstrates Shakespeare's acclaimed ability to bring new complexity to the material that he adapted so that different eras may find within his work the familiar & the strange the congenial & the harsh the sustaining & the challenging