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More than 5000 entries on the history, culture and life of Britain (published in 1993 by Macmillan, now out of print)
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Henry V
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(1599) Historical drama by *Shakespeare, a patriotic celebration of the campaigns of Henry V in 1415–20. The early part of the play sets out to establish good reasons for invading France; French provocation is established dramatically when a gift of tennis balls arrives from the dauphin for the young English king. At the heart of the drama are the two great victories of 1415, the siege of *Harfleur (the occasion for 'Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more') and the Battle of *Agincourt.
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The later scenes prepare for Henry's marriage to the French princess. Comic relief is provided by national rivalries within Henry's army, as when the Welsh captain Fluellen makes the English braggart Pistol eat the leek that he has mocked. The play was superbly filmed at a time of national crisis (1944) with Laurence Olivier in the title role, and again in 1989 with Kenneth Branagh.
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