The last of Shakespeare's plays about English history, Henry VIII tells the story of a monarchy in crisis, as noblemen battle and the people are almost at a point of rebellion. The sly Cardinal Wolsey, the resounding defense of Katherine's marriage by herself, and the questionable ethics of Henry himself make for one of Shakespeare's most intriguing plays. The Folger Shakespeare Library edition contains full explanatory notes on facing pages, scene-by-scene plot summaries, a key to famous lines and phrases, and introduction and essay by an outstanding scholar. 296 pages, softcover.
