COMMAND: HENRY V

Brisk pacing and firm articulation define this short history of Britain's legendary warrior king. It took Shakespeare three plays to condense Henry V and his milieu. (He appears in HENRY V and both parts of HENRY IV.) Cowper's text and Jamie Glover's reading reduce his story to a little over two hours, capturing the essentials of dynastic conflict and medieval land claims while telling a rousing and glorious story. A valuable resource for students, teachers, and anyone who has ever stumbled through Shakespeare's cycle devoted to those bewildering shifts in rulers and domains, this is a title that will also appeal to history buffs and fans of military history. D.A.W. © AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine [Published: JUNE 2011]