Theatrical Temporality and Historical Consciousness in The Famous Victories of Henry V

The anonymously authored The Famous Victories of Henry V (c. 1587) was the first English history play on the popular stage in the Elizabethan era. This work has long been recognized for its influence on Shakespeare. It has received less attention for its innovative meditation on the relationship between historical representation and theatrical form. My analysis puts The Famous Victories in dialogue with shifts in early modern English culture by focusing on its representation of the temporality of historical knowledge, an effect the play achieves through the performance of the famous Elizabethan clown Richard Tarleton.