King Henry VIII by William Shakespeare
"The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth" by William Shakespeare is a historical play written during the early 17th century. The work chronicles the reign of King Henry VIII of England and explores the political intrigues, personal conflicts, and dramatic events surrounding his marriages and relationships, particularly with Anne Boleyn and Catherine of Aragon. The opening of the play sets the tone for a serious and weighty narrative,
unlike many of Shakespeare's more comedic or light-hearted works. The prologue calls for an engaged audience, suggesting that emotional responses, including tears and reflections on nobility and tragedy, are fitting given the subject matter. The initial scenes introduce key characters such as the Duke of Norfolk and the Duke of Buckingham, who converse about their experiences in France before the narrative tangentially shifts to imply tension around Cardinal Wolsey and Buckingham's fateful downfall. The opening effectively establishes a foundation of political maneuvering and personal ambition, signaling a turbulent drama ahead in Henry's court. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
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About this eBook
| Author | Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 |
|---|---|
| Title | King Henry VIII |
| Note | There is an improved edition of this title, eBook #1541 |
| Note | Wikipedia page about this book: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_VIII_(play) |
| Reading Level | Reading ease score: 85.4 (6th grade). Easy to read. |
| Language | English |
| LoC Class | PR: Language and Literatures: English literature |
| Subject | Great Britain -- Kings and rulers -- Drama |
| Subject | Henry, VIII, King of England, 1491-1547 -- Drama |
| Subject | Historical drama |
| Subject | Great Britain -- History -- Henry VIII, 1509-1547 -- Drama |
| Category | Text |
| EBook-No. | 2258 |
| Release Date | Jul 1, 2000 |
| Most Recently Updated | Sep 23, 2025 |
| Copyright Status | Public domain in the USA. |
| Downloads | 255 downloads in the last 30 days. |
| Project Gutenberg eBooks are always free! | |