So although this is a history, it has many comedic elements. In Shakespeare's canon, King Henry IV, Part I is neither one of the shortest plays or the longest. It's about in the middle, running about 3041 lines. By comparison, Hamlet runs 4024 lines and A Midsummer Night's Dream runs 2165 lines.
King Henry IV, part I is perhaps not the easiest entry into Shakespeare, but promises to be very rewarding. I'm hoping a few people might want to tag along on this journey. I always go for Shakespeare with gusto. I recommend first reading a synopsis of the play along with some background information about Shakespearean drama in general and then some historical context as well. And, finally, I find it helps immensely to watch a video or see a performance of the play in addition to reading the text.
In my limited experience, a Shakespeare play is always worthwhile.
from Wikipedia:
If anyone is interested, I would highly recommend The Arden Shakespeare version, which includes a 130-page introduction and numerous annotations that are ultimately necessary to understanding the text with its many obscure references.Henry IV, Part 1 is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written no later than 1597. It is the second play in Shakespeare's tetralogy dealing with the successive reigns of Richard II, Henry IV (two plays, including Henry IV, Part 2), and Henry V. Henry IV, Part 1 depicts a span of history that begins with Hotspur's battle at Homildon in Northumberland against the Douglas late in 1402, and ends with the defeat of the rebels at Shrewsbury in the middle of 1403.[1] From the start it has been an extremely popular play both with the public and critics.
http://www.amazon.com/King-Henry-Part-A ... g+henry+iv