Julia W. reviewed A delightful novel about two young Shakespeares... on 9/17/2008 + 32 more book reviews

Helpful Score: 2

8/15/08 This delightful novel has two Shakespeares narrating: UC Santa Cruz grad student Willie Shakespeare Greenberg in 1982 who is attempting to do everything but write his Master's Thesis on the Bard. And-- 18 year old William Shakespeare of Stratford- upon- Avon in 1582 who is stuck teaching Latin and trying to avoid those who would hurt him for being a secret Catholic. Greenberg gets the odd chapters and Shakespeare the even, until their lives come together.

''You perform here, amongst this company, with seeming passion.'
'Seeming is our trade. And there's profit in it, too. There is an insatiable hunger in England for theater. In London especially. A man may make a pretty penny on the stage, if he will but commit to London nine months a year.' (Shakespeare & Burbage)

'Shakespeare' helped create the modern man, didn't he, his influence is that pervasive. He held the mirror up to nature, but he also created that mirror: so the image he created is the very one we hold ourselves up to. It's almost like a time- travel paradox, isn't it?' (Greenberg's professor)

A thoroughly fun, fun, fun book, that had me laughing out loud and anxious to know if the characters would be okay.

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