The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eighth is a history play by William Shakespeare, based on the life of Henry VIII of England. An alternative title, All is True, is recorded in contemporary documents, the title Henry VIII not appearing until the plays publication in the First Folio of 1623. Stylistic evidence indicates that the play was written by Shakespeare in collaboration with, or revised by, his successor, John Fletcher. It is also somewhat characteristic of the late romances in its structure.
The Second Part of King Henry the Sixth, or Henry VI, Part 2, is a history play by William Shakespeare believed written in approximately 1590-91. It is the second part of the trilogy on Henry VI, and often grouped together with Richard III as a tetralogy on The Wars of the Rosesthe success of which established Shakespeares reputation as a playwright.
Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second of Shakespeares tetralogy that deals with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV (2 plays), and Henry V. Henry IV, Part 1 depicts a span of history that begins with Hotspurs battle at Homildon against the Douglas late in 1402 and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403. From the start it has been an extremely popular play both with the public and the critics.
Blending high spirits and mistaken identities with the suffering of loss and unrequited love, Twelfth Night is the most poignant of Shakespeare's comedies. Disguised as a young man, Viola becomes the page to Count Orsino. Her duty is to win the love of the beautiful but cold Olivia for the Count. But Viola - now in love with Count Orsino herself - becomes the object of Olivia's affections. Confusion and deception give way to mirth and merriment as this most good-humoured comedy reaches its joyful conclusion.
