Henry IV, Part 1

“Out of this nettle, danger, we pluck this flower, safety.”

Shakespeare's most perfect history play is a wild, brilliant mixture of politics and taverns, honor and lies, fathers and sons, featuring his greatest comic creation: Sir John Falstaff.

King Henry IV, who usurped the crown from Richard II, cannot sleep. Rebellion is brewing. The brilliant young Hotspur is raising an army in the north. And the king's own son, Prince Hal, spends his days in the seedy taverns of Eastcheap, drinking, thieving, and joking with a fat old knight named Falstaff. Hal seems a disgrace. But he is watching. He is learning. When the rebellion comes, Hal will redeem himself on the battlefield, kill Hotspur in single combat, and speak the words his father has longed to hear: "I am your son." But what will he do with Falstaff? The play leaves that question for its sequel.

This is Shakespeare at his most entertaining and profound: a play about the education of a prince, the meaning of honor, and the question of whether a liar, a coward, and a glutton can also be a kind of father.

• Written around 1596–1597, one of Shakespeare's most popular and frequently performed plays

• Introduces Sir John Falstaff, one of the greatest characters in all of literature

• Features the famous “Honor” speech (“What is honor? A word”) and the mock-heroic play-within-the-play

Available in multiple formats:

• Paperback & Hardcover: Beautifully designed print editions presenting the complete, unabridged text made to last.

• Ebook: DRM-free EPUB compatible with Kindle, Kobo, Apple Books, and all major e-readers.

• Audiobook: Professionally narrated, complete and unabridged, available on all major audiobook platforms.

A beautifully crafted edition for your shelf, your device, or your ears, or the perfect gift for anyone who knows that the best fathers are not always the ones who gave you life.

About the Author

William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he moved to London and became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later the King's Men). Henry IV, Part 1 was written around 1596–1597, following the success of Richard II. The play was an immediate hit and has remained one of Shakespeare's most popular works. The character of Falstaff—fat, witty, cowardly, and surprisingly tender—was so beloved that Queen Elizabeth I reportedly asked for a play showing him in love (Shakespeare obliged with The Merry Wives of Windsor). The real Falstaff was based on Sir John Oldcastle, a Lollard martyr whose descendants complained; Shakespeare changed the name to Falstaff to avoid offense. The play has been adapted into numerous films, including Orson Welles's Chimes at Midnight (1965) and a 2012 BBC adaptation starring Tom Hiddleston as Prince Hal. Shakespeare's other major works include Hamlet, Henry V, King Lear, and The Tempest. He died in 1616 at the age of 52 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.