Henry V (Bloom's Shakespeare Through the Ages)

The wild and undisciplined child depicted as Prince Hal in the two-part Henry IV grows to become a courageous and deft leader. Based on the life of its title monarch, Henry V chronicles the events surrounding the battle of Agincourt in 1415, part of the Hundred Years' War. In the centerpiece of the play, the Saint Crispin's Day speech, Henry praises the English forces with the well-known words: "We few, we happy few, we band of brothers." This volume of critical essays from throughout the centuries features a plot summary, list of characters, an introduction from the venerable Harold Bloom, and an index for easy reference.