This is an auction for THE HISTORIES of William Shakespeare in two hardback volumes.

The plays:

• Henry VI, Part One
• Henry VI, Part Two
• Henry VI, Part Three
• Richard III
• King John
• Richard II
• Henry IV, Part One
• Henry IV, Part Two
• Henry V
• Henry VIII

Introductions to each volume by Tony Tanner.

From Wikipedia:

"... Shakespeare was living in the reign of Elizabeth I, the last monarch of the house of Tudor, and his history plays are often regarded as Tudor propaganda because they show the dangers of civil war and celebrate the founders of the Tudor dynasty. In particular, Richard III depicts the last member of the rival house of York as an evil monster, a depiction disputed by many modern historians, while portraying the usurper, Henry VII in glowing terms. Political bias is also clear in Henry VIII, which ends with an effusive celebration of the birth of Elizabeth. However, Shakespeare's celebration of Tudor order is less important in these plays than his presentation of the spectacular decline of the medieval world. Moreover, some of Shakespeare's histories—and notably Richard III—point out that this medieval world came to its end when opportunism and machiavelism infiltrated its politics. By evoking the late Middle Ages, these plays described the political and social evolution that had led to the actual methods of Tudor rule, so that it is possible to consider history plays as a biased criticism of their own country..."

More on Wikipedia.

Two hardbacks 1994, from a very nice Everyman's Library edition. (This are two of the books in the photograph.)

1258 pages in the two volumes.

Very good condition.

The cost of shipping is $4.95, or $6.40 by tracked mail. If you are on rural delivery and want tracked mail, the shipping cost will be $8.95.

There is of course no charge for shipping if you collect these books from my shop in Palmerston North following the auction.

Payment within seven days, please.