Henry IV (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)

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Henry IV, an apparent madman who claims that he is the medieval German king Henry IV. In his fifties, Henry lives in a villa in Italy, surrounded by his advisers, who are really his hired companions. Henry is visited by a group of persons from his past: his nephew, di Nolli; his former love, Matilda; and a psychiatrist, among others. During the visit, Henry, who actually recovered from his illness a dozen years ago but has kept up pretenses to remain contented, pretends to fall in love with Frida, Matilda’s daughter, whom he calls his true love. Taunted...

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