Edward III

King Edward learns that he may hold the rightful claim to the throne of France, but before he can press it he must break a Scottish siege in the north of England. There he becomes dangerously infatuated with the married Countess of Salisbury, and his effort to win her tests his honor against his desire. The play then turns to the French campaign, following Edward and his son the Black Prince through the great victories that made the reign famous. Printed in 1596 and long kept outside the canon, this history is now widely accepted as at least partly Shakespeare’s work, with the Countess scenes often singled out for their force. Free to read as a PDF and EPUB edition.