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przidentvincent's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
ella_1536's review against another edition
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
ricefun's review against another edition
3.0
This play lacks depth of character and doesn't have a very strong plot line. It seems obvious that it was an opportunity to praise the current sovereign and try to smooth over some of the questions about her birth brought about because of the extreme marriage situation her father and biological mother were in.
I'm so glad to be finished with the Hnery's on my Bard-a-Thon! It feels like I have been reading them for months, even though it has actually only been a few weeks. Excited to move back into other plays in my reading.
I'm so glad to be finished with the Hnery's on my Bard-a-Thon! It feels like I have been reading them for months, even though it has actually only been a few weeks. Excited to move back into other plays in my reading.
ramblingbard's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
danilanglie's review against another edition
4.0
It was bizarre when baby Elizabeth was born in this play, because it really felt like coming full circle. We made it to Shakespeare's present day, as told by the man himself!
As for my thoughts... I liked this play, but I can see why maybe it isn't considered one of the greats. When you look at the shape of the text as a whole, it's kind of sloppy. What is the point of this play? Is it about the Cardinal Wolsey being a traitor? Or is it about the unprecedented move of the king divorcing his wife? Or is it about Anne and Henry VIII's marriage and the birth of Elizabeth? It's kind of awkward because we know what happens next - Henry doesn't stop at Anne. There's a great deal of censoring going on here, for good reason, but when you look at this play, it's hard to identify a central theme or idea.
When it comes to the language, though, I think this play is one for actors to mark when looking for dramatic monologues! So many powerful moments. From Katherine and Wolsey especially. Really beautiful, lush, complex language. A pleasure to read.
I'm really zooming through these plays at this point... the end of my quest is nigh!
As for my thoughts... I liked this play, but I can see why maybe it isn't considered one of the greats. When you look at the shape of the text as a whole, it's kind of sloppy. What is the point of this play? Is it about the Cardinal Wolsey being a traitor? Or is it about the unprecedented move of the king divorcing his wife? Or is it about Anne and Henry VIII's marriage and the birth of Elizabeth? It's kind of awkward because we know what happens next - Henry doesn't stop at Anne. There's a great deal of censoring going on here, for good reason, but when you look at this play, it's hard to identify a central theme or idea.
When it comes to the language, though, I think this play is one for actors to mark when looking for dramatic monologues! So many powerful moments. From Katherine and Wolsey especially. Really beautiful, lush, complex language. A pleasure to read.
I'm really zooming through these plays at this point... the end of my quest is nigh!
kikalox's review against another edition
4.0
I was gonna give it 3stars but it deserves five solely for the epilogue! I spent the entire book thinking "Oh my god why doesn't Katherine get enough recognition? She is truly remarkable!"...and then I went to the epilogue and sure enough there it was "the only ones who will clap are the empathetic women, who saw one of their kind in the face of Katherine"...
SHOOK
Either I'm really predictable, OR
Shakespeare is a genius. He knew how I would react to his play, a play he wrote 400 years ago... I've never been so connected to a writer
SHOOK
Either I'm really predictable, OR
Shakespeare is a genius. He knew how I would react to his play, a play he wrote 400 years ago... I've never been so connected to a writer
pceboll's review against another edition
challenging
2.5
I was expecting to really dislike this one...don't get me wrong this play is bbboorrriiinnnggg but Queen Katherine's scenes were truly gripping and iconic. 2.5 stars.
dkrane's review against another edition
2.0
Easily the worst Shakespeare play that I've read (although, to be fair, experts think a lot of it wasn't written by Shakespeare.) The writing is pretty much all plot, which means there aren't any many passages that stand out for their beauty. The characters are pretty flat, and the plot doesn't even tell very much of Henry VIII's reign. It's an interesting pair to read with Hillary Mantel's Thomas Cromwell trilogy, which provides a very different perspective on the same events, but those books are far superior to this one.