'The finest, most representative instance of what Shakespeare can do' Harold Bloom Prince Hal, the son of King Henry IV, spends his time in idle pleasure with dissolute friends, among them the roguish Sir John Falstaff. But when the kingdom is threatened by rebellious forces, the prince must abandon his feckless ways. Ranging from taverns and brothels to the royal court and the battlefield, Shakespeare's masterful drama shows a prodigal son rising to meet his destiny as a ruler of men. Used and Recommended by the National Theatre General Editor Stanley Wells Edited by Peter Davison Introduction by Charles Edelman