About the work
History play by William Shakespeare, probably written in the winter of 1596/97; numerous contemporary allusions to the character Falstaff confirm that the play was on stage by 1597 at the latest, even though no record of a specific performance survives. It was first printed as a quarto in 1598, followed by several further editions up to 1622.
Plot
King Henry IV faces a noble rebellion led by the Earl of Northumberland and his son Hotspur, while his own son, the crown prince Henry ("Hal"), prefers to spend his time in London's tavern world with the impoverished knight Sir John Falstaff. At the Battle of Shrewsbury in 1403, Hal defeats the rebel Hotspur in single combat, marking the start of his transformation from carefree prince to future king.
Cultural significance
The play was extraordinarily successful even in Shakespeare's own time, as shown by its eight quarto editions by 1632. The character of Falstaff took on a life of its own and, alongside Hamlet, remains one of Shakespeare's most discussed figures; on continental stages the play is usually performed together with Part 2.