Shakespeare's festive history

Description:

"Although the festive elements in Shakespeare's plays have been well-noted since the publication of Barber's Shakespeare's Festive Comedy, until now no attempt has been made to show how aspects of festivity structure the entire four-play sequence of Shakespeare's Second Henriad. The author details how Shakespeare creates historical characters who engineer their supremacy, shore up their popular support, and/or sustain their charisma through manipulation of festive elements, which are found throughout the tetralogy and rooted in the English cultural psyche."--Jacket.

subjects: English Historical drama,  Fasts and feasts in literature,  Festivals in literature,  Histories,  History and criticism,  In literature,  Kings and rulers in literature,  Knowledge,  Manners and customs,  Knowledge and learning,  History,  Social life and customs

People: Henry IV King of England (1367-1413),  Henry V King of England (1387-1422),  Richard II King of England (1367-1400),  William Shakespeare (1564-1616)