Henry IV, Part 2

Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown. And even uneasier lies the king who knows his son is still not ready to wear it.

Shakespeare's sequel to Henry IV, Part 1 is a darker, more exhausted play, a story about aging, betrayal, and the terrible loneliness of power.

King Henry IV is dying. He cannot sleep. His kingdom is still troubled by rebellion. His son, Prince Hal, has left the taverns of Eastcheap and returned to his royal duties, but his father does not trust him. Falstaff, meanwhile, has been sent to the countryside to raise troops, where he spends his time drinking, scheming, and dodging the angry husband of a woman he has seduced. The play moves toward two inevitable endings: the death of the king and the rejection of Falstaff. When Hal becomes Henry V, he publicly disowns the man who raised him like a father: “I know thee not, old man. Fall to thy prayers.”

This is Shakespeare at his most melancholy and wise: a play about the passage of time, the end of friendship, and the weight of becoming who you were always meant to be. Henry IV, Part 2 is less famous than its predecessor, but it contains some of Shakespeare's most heartbreaking scenes.

• Written around 1597–1599, following the immense success of Henry IV, Part 1

• The only Shakespeare play to feature two characters named “Falstaff” in the dramatis personae (the other is Justice Robert Shallow)

• Contains the famous “We have heard the chimes at midnight” speech and the rejection of Falstaff

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 growing up means saying goodbye to someone you love.

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 2 was written around 1597–1599, immediately after Henry IV, Part 1. Unlike its predecessor, which has a tight, focused plot (Hotspur's rebellion), Part 2 is looser and more episodic, reflecting the exhaustion of a kingdom that has been fighting too long. The play has never been as popular as Part 1, largely because it lacks a clear dramatic climax and because the rejection of Falstaff is so painful to watch. However, it contains some of Shakespeare's finest writing, including the king's "Uneasy lies the head" speech and Falstaff's “chimes at midnight” soliloquy. The play was adapted by Orson Welles as part of his film Chimes at Midnight (1965), which brilliantly condenses both parts of Henry IV. 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.