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3.34 AVERAGE
3.34 AVERAGE
I enjoyed the many levels of storytelling and the amount of historical details that went into writing this book. A very enjoyable read!
Last year I stayed near Oxford, at a B & B called Shakespeare House...Apparently, Will stayed there himself travelling back and forth between Stratford & London. I was very excited to hear that at the time, but now that I think of it - that was probably pure fiction as well!
Last year I stayed near Oxford, at a B & B called Shakespeare House...Apparently, Will stayed there himself travelling back and forth between Stratford & London. I was very excited to hear that at the time, but now that I think of it - that was probably pure fiction as well!
What I'd William Shakespeare had an affair and his lover had a baby? Richard B. Wright takes the reader on a trip through England in Shakespeare's time seen through the eyes of Mr. Shakespeare's daughter, telling her story as she nears the end of her life. I couldn't put this one down!
I was in the middle of a different book so only meant to just have a quick look at this one as I voted for it for our July read. I loved this book, the characters were great - it was fast paced and kept me reading right till the end.
I really enjoyed the fact that this fictional memoir encompassed three different perspectives: Aerlene as an old and dying housekeeper; Aerlene as a young woman; and Aerlene's mother's story. I think that's what made me enjoy the story so much, as I really don't like memoirs much.
I think that the historical perspective was blended very well with the story, so it didn't feel like a 'history lesson made fun', just a really good read. I was fascinated by Aerlene's mother and Aerlene as a young girl. Aerlene also offers some interesting perspectives on truth and reality when her accounts of the stories are questioned - not everything is 100% true, some of it is embellished or the gaps are filled in as well as possible, and this is true for just about every story told.
I think that the historical perspective was blended very well with the story, so it didn't feel like a 'history lesson made fun', just a really good read. I was fascinated by Aerlene's mother and Aerlene as a young girl. Aerlene also offers some interesting perspectives on truth and reality when her accounts of the stories are questioned - not everything is 100% true, some of it is embellished or the gaps are filled in as well as possible, and this is true for just about every story told.
Shakespeare's personal life is poorly documented,leaving room for much speculation. This novel speculates that The Bard fathered an illegitimate daughter, although he remained unaware of her existence. This daughter, Aerlene Ward, is the 70-year-old narrator who tells the story of her own life and that of her mother. Understandably she becomes obsessed with the father's plays, and passages from them are inserted and connected to Aerlene's situation. Aerlene especially likes "Hamlet" which explores themes with parallels in her life.
Shakespeare is really a secondary character in the book; the novel focuses more on its female protagonists. There are, in fact, several interesting women. As in his other novels(especially "Clara Callan"), Wright portrays female characters convincingly.
The book sheds no new light on Shakespeare's life, but does illuminate life both in the country and in London during his lifetime.
Please check out my reader's blog: http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/
Shakespeare is really a secondary character in the book; the novel focuses more on its female protagonists. There are, in fact, several interesting women. As in his other novels(especially "Clara Callan"), Wright portrays female characters convincingly.
The book sheds no new light on Shakespeare's life, but does illuminate life both in the country and in London during his lifetime.
Please check out my reader's blog: http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/
I didn't find Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard to be very original in concept, and I didn't particularly like Aerlene's narration. Basically, nothing about this novel grabbed me and made me want to keep reading - not the plot, not the characters, not the historical setting, not the storytelling. There's nothing really wrong with it; it just seemed average to me. Just okay. I actually skimmed the last 100 or so pages. I'm generally a fan of historical fiction, but this novel didn't really have anything new to offer me.
Had this book been written by an author that I didn't already know and like, I doubt I would have read it. The "imaginary love child of a historic figure" story line doesn't really sound all that promising or original on its own. But having loved Clara Callan, I was prepared to give Mr. Shakespeare's Bastard a try.
Fortunately, it really is an excellent book. I enjoyed the way half of it was the mother's story, as told to her daughter, and the other half the daughter's story, as told to her young friend. And I liked that they were rich and interesting characters in themselves, not just by virtue of their relationship with Shakespeare.
Overall it seems a bit fluffy for Wright, and I'm not sure what compelled him to choose this subject, but it was a good read for those who like historical fiction.
Fortunately, it really is an excellent book. I enjoyed the way half of it was the mother's story, as told to her daughter, and the other half the daughter's story, as told to her young friend. And I liked that they were rich and interesting characters in themselves, not just by virtue of their relationship with Shakespeare.
Overall it seems a bit fluffy for Wright, and I'm not sure what compelled him to choose this subject, but it was a good read for those who like historical fiction.
Arlene just wants to write down her story. Her mother, driven out of town by her numerous scandals, ends up in London where she meets a young actor named William. They begin seeing each other regularly but before she knows it she's pregnant and since William is already married, she must move back home to live with her brother and his wife. Years later, that child, Arlene Ward, goes back to London determined to find her father, the now famous playwright, William Shakespeare. Told by Arlene in her old age, to the mistress of the home where she works, Arlene wonders if anyone will believe her.
I enjoyed the narrative voice of this story – a women telling her mother's story (as as a result her story) in her own old age. It gave a sort of authority to the telling making it seem very believable. The historical detail was also incredibly intricate. I had to appreciate the amount of work and research Richard B. Wright would have had to put into this novel. My only real problem with this book was that the pacing was a bit slow. It weighs in at only 341 pages but at times it feels a lot longer. Since it is a story of someone telling a story some parts feel a little repetitive or over described. Other than that though the characters are heart warming, the setting is beautifully depicted and the story is unique.
If you're a fan of historical fiction you will probably enjoy this book. It really is beautifully written and Richard B. Wright is a brilliant story teller. If you do decide to pick it up, take your time reading it, you'll appreciate it more and this book deserves the attention.
I enjoyed the narrative voice of this story – a women telling her mother's story (as as a result her story) in her own old age. It gave a sort of authority to the telling making it seem very believable. The historical detail was also incredibly intricate. I had to appreciate the amount of work and research Richard B. Wright would have had to put into this novel. My only real problem with this book was that the pacing was a bit slow. It weighs in at only 341 pages but at times it feels a lot longer. Since it is a story of someone telling a story some parts feel a little repetitive or over described. Other than that though the characters are heart warming, the setting is beautifully depicted and the story is unique.
If you're a fan of historical fiction you will probably enjoy this book. It really is beautifully written and Richard B. Wright is a brilliant story teller. If you do decide to pick it up, take your time reading it, you'll appreciate it more and this book deserves the attention.
1 STARS
"In a quiet manor house in Oxfordshire, an ailing housekeeper by the name of Aerlene Ward feels the time has come to confess the great secret that has shaped her life-she is the illegitimate daughter of William Shakespeare, England's most famous playwright.
With a brilliant eye and ear for this rich period of history, Richard B. Wright brings to life the teeming streets of Elizabethan London and the seasonal rhythms of rural life in Oliver Cromwell's England as he interweaves the intriguing stories of the lovely Elizabeth, who allows herself to be seduced by a struggling young writer from Stratford, and her plain but clever daughter, who must live with the consequences.
As their lives unfold, secrets are revealed, love is found and lost, and futures are forever changed. Readers will be fascinated by glimpses of the young Will as an actor with the Queen's Men and, fifteen years later, as a world-weary but increasingly wealthy playwright -- who may have had an unexpected daughter." (From Amazon)
I love Wright's writing and love Shakespeare, period, so of course this is the perfect novel. I chose this for my book club and was sad how dull this book was. The descriptions were way too detailed and not really needed for the story.
"In a quiet manor house in Oxfordshire, an ailing housekeeper by the name of Aerlene Ward feels the time has come to confess the great secret that has shaped her life-she is the illegitimate daughter of William Shakespeare, England's most famous playwright.
With a brilliant eye and ear for this rich period of history, Richard B. Wright brings to life the teeming streets of Elizabethan London and the seasonal rhythms of rural life in Oliver Cromwell's England as he interweaves the intriguing stories of the lovely Elizabeth, who allows herself to be seduced by a struggling young writer from Stratford, and her plain but clever daughter, who must live with the consequences.
As their lives unfold, secrets are revealed, love is found and lost, and futures are forever changed. Readers will be fascinated by glimpses of the young Will as an actor with the Queen's Men and, fifteen years later, as a world-weary but increasingly wealthy playwright -- who may have had an unexpected daughter." (From Amazon)
I love Wright's writing and love Shakespeare, period, so of course this is the perfect novel. I chose this for my book club and was sad how dull this book was. The descriptions were way too detailed and not really needed for the story.
One dimensional characters, simplistic writing, clumsy narration technique. A neat idea can be hamstrung by all these things singly, but with all three in the mix the story is slaughtered. Too bad :(