There has been much written and said about Shakespeare’s motives for writing the Histories but there is little hard evidence to suggest that he was endeavouring to curry favour with Elizabeth by justifying the Tudor dynasty. Richard II and Richard III: bookends for the Historiesīy the time Shakespeare began writing the histories, the last of the Tudors, Elizabeth, had been on the throne for 30 years. They cover the period 1380 – 1487 and include the time when the warring families of the Plantagenets waged a bloody war for the English crown. In all there are eight key plays: Richard II, Henry IV, Part 1 and 2, Henry V, Henry VI, Part 1, 2 and 3, Richard III. The Histories cover the period up to and including the Wars of the Roses.
The Tudors: Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I The political and religious wounds that had been opened by her father Henry continued during her reign and that of sister Mary. Even the last of the Tudors, Elizabeth, could not be certain of her hold on the throne. The issue concerned nature and legitimacy of political power. While no single play in this series equals any of the great tragedies, the Histories constitute a sustained and coherent body of work that addressed a central political issue of Shakespeare’s time. 6 ½ hrs, 3 DVDs, SDH.There is argument to be made that Shakespeare’s history plays constitute one of his greatest achievements. Filmed on location, seen on PBS's Great Performances.
Benedict Cumberbatch, Judi Dench, Hugh Bonneville, and Sophie Okonedo star. Together, they tell the story of the Wars of the Roses. Following the international success of the first Hollow Crown, this three-part series features lavish film adaptations of three Shakespeare plays: Henry VI Parts I and II, and Richard III.
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