Henry VI, Part I

The first part of Shakespeare’s early trilogy opens with the funeral of the heroic Henry V and the crisis that follows his death. As the boy king Henry VI grows up under quarreling nobles, England’s grip on France slips away, defended by the valiant Lord Talbot against the inspired French forces of Joan of Arc. At home, the rivalry between the houses of York and Lancaster takes root in the famous scene where lords pluck red and white roses to mark their loyalties. Ambition, weak leadership, and factional hatred set the stage for the civil wars to come. This free PDF and EPUB edition includes the complete text of the play.