#28 in Drama & theatre
Henry IV, Part 1
- 160
- Pages
- about 3 h
- Reading time
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Our view
“Henry IV, Part 1” is one of Shakespeare’s liveliest history plays, setting a rebellion against the crown beside a prince’s coming of age. While his enemies band together against King Henry, his son Hal spends his days among men of doubtful reputation, and the play asks what makes a fit heir. Some readers find it hard to follow. Worth reading for anyone curious about power, loyalty and how a king is made.
The view of the BookRank editors, written from readers’ ratings and comments. It does not affect the score or the book’s place in a ranking.
About the book
Henry IV, Part 1 is a play by William Shakespeare, probably written in the mid-1590s and first published in quarto in 1598. It was composed in the later years of the reign of Elizabeth I, when questions of succession and political stability were prominent. Set in England in the early 1400s during the reign of Henry IV, the play depicts rebellion against the crown alongside the development of Prince Hal, the future Henry V, and examines themes of leadership and the formation of the heir apparent.
Where the score comes from
The sources average 7.8 across 78 ratings — not yet many, so the reader vote carries 35% of the weight and the rest pulls toward the Drama & theatre average of 7.6. That is how 7.6 comes out.
| Source | Average | Ratings | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open Library | 7.8 | 12 | 15% |
| Hardcover | 7.8 | 66 | 85% |
Frequently asked
How long is Henry IV, Part 1?
It has 160 pages — longer than 61% of the ranked books in Drama & theatre.
In this book
Themes this book shares with others — each leads to the best books on it.
If you liked this
The same shelf — Drama & theatre — and a score of 7.6, the closest to this book.
