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Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward?
"William Shakespeare was a con man! A faker and a forger!" With these words from a fellow-lecturer ringing in his ears, university lecturer, Daniel Ryhope, sets off on a quest to uncover the truth: Did Shakespeare really write Shakespeare?
Joined by his wife and two friends, Daniel begins the search, analyzing and sifting through information on writers and dramatists who were alive during the Shakespearean era. How was it that the writer of the greatest works in English came from a small market town? Did the creator of Hamlet and Macbeth have to be well-educated? Was Shakespeare a cover-name for an embarrassed aristocrat writer? Did he have connections at court? Was the writer a woman? Was it possible that the plays were written by a team?
In true detective fashion, Daniel and his friends investigate all the possible theories and eventually announce their conclusion, appropriately enough, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's hometown.
Using sources from far and wide, D. Lawrence-Young has written a fascinating novel which throws much light on the perennial question: Who Wrote Shakespeare?
Joined by his wife and two friends, Daniel begins the search, analyzing and sifting through information on writers and dramatists who were alive during the Shakespearean era. How was it that the writer of the greatest works in English came from a small market town? Did the creator of Hamlet and Macbeth have to be well-educated? Was Shakespeare a cover-name for an embarrassed aristocrat writer? Did he have connections at court? Was the writer a woman? Was it possible that the plays were written by a team?
In true detective fashion, Daniel and his friends investigate all the possible theories and eventually announce their conclusion, appropriately enough, in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare's hometown.
Using sources from far and wide, D. Lawrence-Young has written a fascinating novel which throws much light on the perennial question: Who Wrote Shakespeare?
ebook
First published January 1, 2012
14 people want to read
About the author
David Lawrence-Young
12 books11 followersD. Lawrence-Young takes the often pompous and frequently silly “Shakespeare Authorship Controversy” and turns it into a fast-paced page-turning detective story. All the nooks and crannies of rival candidates and claims are traversed in interesting locations and often funny encounters. The SAC has got under the Shakespeare-loving and teaching David Young’s skin and he has turned this irritant into a pleasure to read and from which there is much to learn.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 25, 2013
The Shakespeare authorship question is not a new notion, nor is the idea of writing a novel about exploring said authorship, it is however one of this reader’s favorite topics. I love the adventure and mystery that can be produced around Shakespeare, not to mention when you write a book about Shakespeare… the references to his plays will be plentiful. David Lawrence-Young’s novel Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward? is yet another novel to add to the list of fantastic historical fiction/literary fiction about the Shakespeare authorship question bookshelf.
Daniel Ryhope, a lecturer of the Bard of Avon, is confronted by colleagues with the idea the “William Shakespeare was a con man! A fake and a forger!” Daniel, as any good member of the literati would do set off to the library with his wife and two friends for an intense search to find out the truth about who really wrote William Shakespeare. With so many questions and so many sources the foursome discover that there are many truths out there and finding the one they seek is not an easy task.
Well their end discovery in the Shakespeare authorship question is not at all surprising the ending does pose another question that I can only hope Young will turn into a sequel… “Did Shakespeare have anything to do with Marlowe’s death?”
Overall, this is a fun read, and you can create a fantastic Shakespeare authorship question bibliography from the read. (I will post my notes from the book soon on my blog.) I recommend this to the reader who is interested in Shakespeare, enjoys reading books about adventures while researching. Or to the person who thinks a day or two spent in deep research in your favorite corner of the library as a dream vacation. Those looking for a sort of thriller, edge of your seat suspense however may not find this to be there cup of tea.
Daniel Ryhope, a lecturer of the Bard of Avon, is confronted by colleagues with the idea the “William Shakespeare was a con man! A fake and a forger!” Daniel, as any good member of the literati would do set off to the library with his wife and two friends for an intense search to find out the truth about who really wrote William Shakespeare. With so many questions and so many sources the foursome discover that there are many truths out there and finding the one they seek is not an easy task.
Well their end discovery in the Shakespeare authorship question is not at all surprising the ending does pose another question that I can only hope Young will turn into a sequel… “Did Shakespeare have anything to do with Marlowe’s death?”
Overall, this is a fun read, and you can create a fantastic Shakespeare authorship question bibliography from the read. (I will post my notes from the book soon on my blog.) I recommend this to the reader who is interested in Shakespeare, enjoys reading books about adventures while researching. Or to the person who thinks a day or two spent in deep research in your favorite corner of the library as a dream vacation. Those looking for a sort of thriller, edge of your seat suspense however may not find this to be there cup of tea.
May 9, 2013
2.5. stars, rounded up to 3.
In this extremely well-researched novel by David Lawrence-Young, the reader can find out all they need to know about the authorship of the collected works of William Shakespeare. Written as “an academic detective novel”, it opens with a challenge to Daniel, the narrator: how does he know that Shakespeare really did write all of the plays, sonnets and poems attributed to him? Surely the author of these works would need to have been very well educated, well travelled - a person well versed in the law and courtly ways?
Daniel takes up the challenge, along with his wife and two friends. They follow many clues found in books, on the internet, in Stratford on Avon and finally, they have enough evidence to reach a conclusion.
I cannot say that it worked for me as a novel, but the book is well written and full of information about the various claimants to the Shakespeare throne. Much of it is very interesting and I learned a great deal.
I received this free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
In this extremely well-researched novel by David Lawrence-Young, the reader can find out all they need to know about the authorship of the collected works of William Shakespeare. Written as “an academic detective novel”, it opens with a challenge to Daniel, the narrator: how does he know that Shakespeare really did write all of the plays, sonnets and poems attributed to him? Surely the author of these works would need to have been very well educated, well travelled - a person well versed in the law and courtly ways?
Daniel takes up the challenge, along with his wife and two friends. They follow many clues found in books, on the internet, in Stratford on Avon and finally, they have enough evidence to reach a conclusion.
I cannot say that it worked for me as a novel, but the book is well written and full of information about the various claimants to the Shakespeare throne. Much of it is very interesting and I learned a great deal.
I received this free from NetGalley in return for an honest review.
April 8, 2013
Who wrote Shakespeare?? That is the question that the author tackles in this fictional detective story.
So, four academics embark on a quest to discover whether the Bard really did or did not write the plays, poems and sonnets attributed to one William Shakespeare.
The fictional academics tackle all (and I stress all) the various theories associated with the authorship of Shakespeare - from Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe & Edward de Vere, from Roger Manners, William Stanely, Henry Neville and Fulke Grenville.
But then the ladies are sent off to investigate another angle - the female angle. Could a woman have written Shakespeare? And so the female candidates are put forward: Anne Whateley & Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke & Elizabeth Sidney, Countess of Rutland, also Emilia Bassano-Lanier and also Mary Fitton.
So, after a lengthy investigation what did our quartet of academics find out - that is for you to read.
So, four academics embark on a quest to discover whether the Bard really did or did not write the plays, poems and sonnets attributed to one William Shakespeare.
The fictional academics tackle all (and I stress all) the various theories associated with the authorship of Shakespeare - from Francis Bacon, Christopher Marlowe & Edward de Vere, from Roger Manners, William Stanely, Henry Neville and Fulke Grenville.
But then the ladies are sent off to investigate another angle - the female angle. Could a woman have written Shakespeare? And so the female candidates are put forward: Anne Whateley & Queen Elizabeth I, and Mary Sidney, Countess of Pembroke & Elizabeth Sidney, Countess of Rutland, also Emilia Bassano-Lanier and also Mary Fitton.
So, after a lengthy investigation what did our quartet of academics find out - that is for you to read.
March 29, 2013
This novel is great! Academic sleuths in contemporary times trying to find out just who wrote as Shakespeare. I love all the historical research that went into this work. Plus, the author pulls it off without lulling readers to sleep. It includes just enough story to keep you interested and entertained, but doesn't overwhelm you by being too wordy. Also makes you want to delve into the facts yourself. I recommend this book for any and all Shakespeare fans or foes.
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Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward?
David Lawrence-Young
Net Galley Feedback
Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward?
David Lawrence-Young
March 21, 2013
Shakespeare fans, do I have a book for you. I just finished up David Lawrence-Young's Will the Real William Shakespeare Please Step Forward? Haven't heard about it? It seems few have according to Goodreads, but this is a book worth seeking out.
University lecturer Daniel Ryhope is stunned when a colleague declares "William Shakespeare was a con man! A faker and a forger!" He had spent his whole career believing that the Bard himself created all his plays and sonnets, but suddenly is plagued with uncertainity. Along with two colleagues and his wife, Beth, he embarks on an academic journey to find out who was the real William Shakespeare.
To read the rest please go to http://cwatc-bookclub.blogspot.com
(review based on ebook received from netgalley.com)
University lecturer Daniel Ryhope is stunned when a colleague declares "William Shakespeare was a con man! A faker and a forger!" He had spent his whole career believing that the Bard himself created all his plays and sonnets, but suddenly is plagued with uncertainity. Along with two colleagues and his wife, Beth, he embarks on an academic journey to find out who was the real William Shakespeare.
To read the rest please go to http://cwatc-bookclub.blogspot.com
(review based on ebook received from netgalley.com)
October 31, 2013
Didn't care for it.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews