Norton Shakespeare - Histories (King Edward III / King Henry IV. Part 1 / King Henry IV. Part 2 / King Henry V / King Henry VI. Part 1 / King Henry VI. Part 2 / King Henry VI. Part 3 / King Henry VIII /King John / King Richard II / King Richard III / Sir Thomas More)

The Norton Shakespeare series was launched by W. W. Norton & Company with the intent of providing an authoritative, accessible, and scholarly text for both students and academics. This specific volume, focusing on the history plays, emerged from the 1997 general edition edited by Stephen Greenblatt and a team of distinguished Shakespearean scholars. The series is celebrated for its use of the Oxford Shakespeare texts, which aim to provide readings closer to the original theatrical performances than previous, more heavily emended editions.

The design philosophy behind the Norton Shakespeare focuses on readability and critical context. The collection is notable for its extensive footnotes and historical introductions, which reflect the 'new historicist' perspective championed by Greenblatt. By positioning these plays within the political and social climate of Elizabethan and Jacobean England, the editors sought to demystify Shakespeare’s historical narratives for a modern audience. Upon its release, the project was widely praised for its rigorous scholarship, though it sparked healthy debate among scholars regarding its editorial choices and the specific arrangement of the plays.