Book Review: Henry IV, Part 1 by William Shakespeare

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“Henry IV, Part 1” by William Shakespeare is an exciting historical fiction play recounting the reign of England’s Henry IV.

Buy “Henry IV Part 1“

“Henry IV Part 1” follows Henry IV who sits on a usurped throne. His son Hal is self-indulgent and under the guidance of the highly notorious Sir John Falstaff. But the journey is just about to start as the question of true honour and kingship arise.

I’m starting to think that I dislike Shakespeare’s history plays…

Even the fighting scenes were boring???

Hal (Prince Henry) is literally the only character that goes through character development. And obviously enough I only was interested in his relationship with John Falstaff (the only saving grace of this boring plot). I feel like I retained more of the political troubles and relationships through their comedic banter than speeches from the King and other casts.

Not story-related but it just dawned on me how similar the character names are to the ones used in the Game of Thrones series e.g., Lannister- Lancaster.

Overall, an informative read on history but snooze-worthy in creativity…

“I know you all, and will awhile uphold

The unyoked humour of your idleness.

Yet herein will I imitate the sun,

Who doth permit the base contagious clouds

To smother up his beauty from the world,

That when he please again to be himself,

Being wanted, he may be more wondered at

By breaking through the foul and ugly mists

Of vapours that did seem to strangle him.

“But thoughts the slave of life, and life, Time’s fool,

And Time, that takes survey of all the world,

Must have a stop.” 

⭐⭐