Shakespeare's vibrant history plays, including Richard III, Henry V, and the two parts of Henry IV, spring to life with all the drama of the feuds, rivalries, and epic battles on which they were based. While Shakespeare was aware of the historical past and a keen observer of his own times, his true genius lies in the timeless universality he lends to the lives of these legendary royals and the schemers and dreamers who made up their worlds. Bloom's How to Write about Shakespeare's Histories gives students a hand with composing an effective essay, suggesting sample paper topics and providing an overview of each work covered. An introduction by renowned scholar Harold Bloom, bibliographies, and an index round out the volume.