William Collins Books and Decca Records are proud to present Argo Classics, a historic catalogue of classic prose and verse read by some of the world’s most renowned voices. Originally released as vinyl records, these expertly remastered stories are now available to download for the first time.

‘For where thou art, there is the world itself,

With every several pleasure in the world,

And where thou art not, desolation.’

Henry VI Part II is part of Shakespeare’s trilogy centred on the Wars of the Roses.

Against the wishes of the nobles, King Henry marries the penniless Margaret, who plots against him with her lover. As tensions between York and Lancaster build, the duke of York gathers supporters for his claim to the throne. York secretly leads a rebellion, his supporters proclaim him king and Henry is forced to flee.

All of the Shakespeare plays within the Argo Classics catalogue are performed by the Marlowe Dramatic Society and Professional Players. The Marlowe was founded in 1907 with a mission to focus on effective delivery of verse, respect the integrity of texts and rescue neglected plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries and the less performed plays of Shakespeare himself. The Marlowe has performed annually at Cambridge Arts Theatre since its opening in 1936 and continues to produce some of the finest actors of their generations.

Thurston Dart, professor of music at London University and a fellow of Jesus College Cambridge, directed the music for this production.

The full cast includes: Richard Marquand; David King; Denis McCarthy; Peter Orr; Richard Wordsworth; Patrick Wymark; Roger Croucher; Gary Watson; David Jones; Tony Church; John Shrapnel; John Tydeman; Frank Duncan; Robin Ellis; Miles Malleson; Guy Slater; Michael Turnbull; Bob Jones; David Buck; Terrence Hardiman; Raymond Clarke; Dudley Jones; Bob Jones; Peter Woodthorpe; Terrence Hardiman; David Burke; Philip Strick; Michael Bates; Trevor Nunn; Norman Rossington; Stephen Thorne; David Burke; Mary Morris; Yvonne Bonnamy; George Rylands; Patsy Byrne; Terrence Hardiman.