This is, properly speaking, a book of history about Shakespeare's plays in the context of the succession issues about which Lake has written previously; but by succeeding at that, it manages to work also as if it were a book of literary criticism, leaning towards the Old Historicism, and of reception criticism. It casts a fascinating light on the currents which shaped Shakespeare's history plays (and some of the Roman plays as well), up until the succession of James I, in terms of both how Shakespeare shaped the material he had to work with and how alternative treatments of the same material were current.

Lake places Shakespeare firmly within the general set of supporters of Essex throughout most of the 1590s, though not in the very later days of Essex rebellion; it marks him as being one of those who supported the current settlement but were not particularly vehement as regards Roman Catholics as such. He also places the general development of Elizabethan public drama firmly in the context of its role as an establishment-supported propaganda mechanism, building on work done by Scott McMillin and Sally-Beth MacLean on The Queen's Men.

Finally, he provides (in some cases, partial) readings of the plays which are persuasive and, if not entirely new, have new dimensions. This isn't where I'd want to start if I were just learning about the history plays, but it makes a good addition to any more advanced list of books on them. ( )