As Henrys throne is threatened by rebel forces England is divided. The characters reflect these oppositions with Hal & Hotspur vying for position & Falstaff leading Hal away from his father & towards excess. During Shakespeares lifetime Henry IV Part I was his most reprinted play & it remains enormously popular with theatregoers & readers. Falstaff still towers among Shakespeares comic inventions as he did in the late 1590s. David Bevingtons introduction discusses the play in both peformance & criticism from Shakespeares time to our own illustrating the variety of interpretations of which the text is capable. He analyses the plays richly textured language in a detailed commentary on individual words & phrases & clearly explains its historical background. ABOUT THE SERIES: For over 100 years Oxford Worlds Classics has made available the widest range of literature from around the globe. Each affordable volume reflects Oxfords commitment to scholarship providing the most accurate text plus a wealth of other valuable features including expert introductions by leading authorities helpful notes to clarify the text up-to-date bibliographies for further study & much more.