First published 2021
Henry VI rules England from his throne as the kingdom disintegrates. French lands fall away from English dominion while Joan of Arc leads her armies to victory after victory. The monarch observes helplessly as his nobility forsake their obligations for selfish pursuits. Suffolk and Warwick follow their personal desires rather than England's welfare. Private grudges and vendettas corrupt the government. Competing groups form as different power claims split the royal court. Individual envy trumps allegiance to the crown. Henry cannot control the overwhelming forces surrounding him, and his inadequacies as a leader become more apparent with every new catastrophe. The disputes that will evolve into the Wars of the Roses start forming. This version of Shakespeare's historical drama includes Henry Courtney Selous's original illustrations, enhanced through digital coloring that brings new life to the monochrome artwork.
Genres: drama, classic-literature, historical-fiction, british-literature, shakespeare, historical-drama
Vibes: atmospheric, dark, political-intrigue, power-struggle, tragic
Tropes: historical-tragedy, political-downfall, power-struggle, weak-leadership
Setting: England, France
Period: 15th Century
445 pages · Paperback · Random House Publishing Group
Content warnings: violence, war