First Part of King Henry VI (version 2)
Chapter 1 of 6 Dramatis Personae
- Running time
- 2 h 55 min
- Language
- English
- Readers
- Craig Franklin, Hamlet, Jenn Broda, Kelly S. Taylor, Sonia, Tomas Peter
Chapters
About this recording
The fates of a war-torn France and an England faded of its past glory hang in the balance in this first installment of William Shakespeare’s riveting Wars of the Roses tetralogy. Following the untimely death of King Henry V, lofty ambitions and heated rivalries come the fore in the English court as various members of the nobility vie for power and favour before the coronation of the late king’s young and callow son.
Meanwhile, the new monarch’s ascension to the throne is further complicated by the English army’s territorial losses in France. Despite the valiant efforts of the noble Lord Talbot, who fights fiercely to defend England’s claims, the arrival of the mysterious maiden Joan la Pucelle (who we now know today as Joan of Arc) on the French side signals a drastic tidal shift. Before long, Joan’s determination and passion in battle inspire the French to resist against their invaders, while the simmering tensions and splintered factions back in England weaken the country’s hold in the geopolitical sphere, opening the door for further discord and treachery in the plays to follow.
Filled with stirring speeches, vivid characters and memorable battle scenes, this gripping opening…