Mrs. Shakespeare: The Complete Works

by Robert Nye

In a fictional memoir written seven years following her famed husband's death, Anne Hathaway recalls her life with William Shakespeare, especially a remarkable week spent in London, in April 1594, in his lodgings over a fishmonger's shop. By the author of The Late Mr. Shakespeare. Reprint.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Shakespeare, Historical, British Literature, Novels

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Robert Nye was an English writer, playwright and poet.

Nye started writing stories for children to entertain his three young sons. Nye published his first adult novel, Doubtfire, in 1967.

Nye's next publication after Doubtfire was a return to children's literature, a freewheeling version of Beowulf which has remained in print in many editions since 1968. In 1970, he published another children's book, Wishing Gold, and received the James Kennaway Memorial Award for his collection of short stories, Tales I Told My Mother (1969).

During the early 1970s Nye wrote several plays for BBC radio including “A Bloody Stupit Hole” (1970), “Reynolds, Reynolds” (1971), and a version of Penthesilea by Heinrich von Kleist (1971). He was also commissioned by Covent Garden to write an unpublished libretto for Harrison Birtwistle's opera, Kronia (1970). Nye held the position of writer in residence at the University of Edinburgh, 1976-1977, during which time he received the Guardian fiction prize, followed by the 1976 Hawthornden Prize for his novel Falstaff.

He continued to write poetry, publishing Darker Ends (1969) and Divisions on a Ground (1976), and to prepare editions of other poets with whose work he felt an affinity: Sir Walter Ralegh, William Barnes, and Laura Riding. His own Collected Poems appeared in 1995. His selected poems, entitled The Rain and The Glass, published in 2005, won the Cholmondeley Award. From 1977 he lived in County Cork, Ireland. Although his novels have won prizes and been translated into many languages, it is as a poet that he would probably have preferred to be remembered. The critic Gabriel Josipovici described him as "one of the most interesting poets writing today, with a voice unlike that of any of his contemporaries."

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

I cannot make up my mind on if this was a good book, it most definitely is a rather odd one. Nye takes what is known about Shakespeare, what he gleans from his work and adds to that a large dollop of imagination and writes from the perspective of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare's wife. If you put Shakespeare on any kind of pedestal I would give this one a miss. The first part of the book is a methodical takedown of the less appealing personal qualities of Shakespeare, no man is a hero in the eyes of his valet or his wife to hear Nye tell it. Then the second part of the book takes an unexpected turn into the potential sexual preferences of Shakespeare. The third part is again given what precedes it surprising, an almost tender reflection of what two very different people can share after a lifetime together. The first part of the book felt very long and shrill, but I very much liked the giving of a voice to the supporting cast, a view on the personal nature of a genius, and finally sop that I am the third and final part.

I could summarise the book plot in one profane line but it would be a spoiler of the highest order and most likely not fit any editorial policy that goodreads may well have for the protection of the innocent.

[David Feela · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's a curious book, a unusual read, but not in a bad way. Entirely composed of diary-like entrees and dialogue, the narrative contains great chuckles and snickers, many in the disservice of that legendary icon, Bill Shakespeare. Written with much irreverence, "Mrs. Shakespeare" tells of her perspective and experience in the service and acquisition of her "second-best bed." What's very fascinating is the author's integration of Shakespearean history and scholarly knowledge about the bard within this whimsical rumination by his wife. I wish I'd known more of the history to judge more accurately the historical authenticity mixed into the narrative. My only criticism is that the solidly singular POV makes the novel somewhat flat as it goes on, though it is a short read overall. A must read for those with much Shakespearean background, if for nothing else than to have some fun with all that academic ballast.

[verbava · Rating 4 out of 5]

дуже нормальне бажання – скласти з текстів автора, особливо такого загадкового автора, як шекспір, історію його життя чи принаймні якісь невеличкі фрагменти цієї історії.
спочатку не зовсім зрозуміло, що робить роберт най, і тим менш ясно, навіщо він це робить. але до кінця книжки його уривчасті речення й короткі абзаци складаються у проникливу розповідь, яка, крім того, що про друге за якістю ліжко, ще й про любов і тугу.

[Angel 一匹狼 · Rating 2 out of 5]

"Mrs. Shakespeare: The Complete Works" is an interesting one-note book, that overcomes its welcome with an overlong and not very original third act.

The story is quite simple: Mrs. Shakespeare and Mr. Shakespeare meet and spend some time together, all written in an over-florid and pompous style, tongue-in-cheeked and with constant references to Shakespeare's work.

It all starts quite well, it is funny and fresh. But then, as the book continues, it fails to offer anything else, and ends repeating itself quite a bit. And the last part is strangely vacuous and empty, and feels a little bit like a filler, a failure maybe more of style than the idea.

Talking about style... Nye's has a knack for making his characters speak in the right tone, with the right words and making all over-the-top. But at the same time it seems he has put more effort into that than in developing a story.

To read or not to read... Well, it is very easy to read, short and with not much content... More a curio for an empty afternoon than a next-to-read book.

5.5/10

[J · Rating 2 out of 5]

I only gave this two stars because I abandoned it almost immediately. I just did not care for the writing style. Ifbit had been written as a story instead of verse, I probably would have enjoyed it as the subject was of interest to me.

[Judy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Don't waste your time on this one. I found it boring, not humorous at all, and insignificant in plot, character, and thought. As a Shakespeare lover, I am embarrassed for the bard and his family that they were subjected to this kind of "literary" tomfoolery.

[Vanessa · Rating 1 out of 5]

I read maybe 20 pages and was already annoyed. "Witty banter" is only good when there's some kind of substance behind it, and not annoying drivel.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

From BBC Radio 4 Extra:
The Bard's shrewd wife reveals how he left her his second-best bed. Stars Maggie Steed and Kenneth Cranham.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

A delicious romp through Anne Shakespeare's life with Will. Typically coarse and lewd in places, but very cleverly imagined, with a wonderfully strong voice for Mrs S.

[Bettie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bettie's Books

[Carole Rae · Rating 2 out of 5]

This has been collecting dust on my shelf for about 3 years now. I bought this at the Flint Library book sale a while back. Finally dusted this off and gave it a chance.

This is a memoir of Anne Hathaway...the wife of the famous William Shakespeare. It has been 7 years since her husband has died and she has decided to sit down and recall her life with him.

The first thing you'll notice is that the formatting of this is really different. Which fun and different of course. It's written in verse-style. Anne wanted to honor her husband by writing her diary and reflections in this way. Different and not for everyone. I liked it because it seemed to fit and it was fun!

However...........I did have issues with the jumping around in the timeline. I would've liked her to tell their story from when they first met and so on. I would've loved to see their relationship develop and change and then she at the end they finally understand each other. This felt....hollow in a way.

I would've also loved to learn more about her and the kids from her POV. You see it a little bit here and there, but she focuses so much on him and his career. They are pretty much forgotten in good ol' Willy's shadow so it would've been nice for this to focus more on them. Yes, I get he was her hubby and a big part of her life, but it would've been nice to know her before she met him too and her life after him. That is what I was hoping for when I picked this up 3 years ago.

Overall, I did have fun with this. Some humor and it was nice learning a bit about Anne. I did have some big issues though. I'll give this 2 stars.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I have never disliked anything Shakespeare-related that I have read, but there is a first time for everything.

This was not worth the time it took to read its sparsely printed 213 pages. The sentences are short — sometimes not even sentences. The chapters are brief, but not brief enough.

The narrator (Anne Shakespeare, or “Mrs. Shakespeare”) writes in her little vellum book as if she has a severe case of attention-deficit disorder; she changes topics without warning and sometimes with no discernible logic. She rambles. She repeats herself. She stops to share a recipe. She backs up to share a particular story about someone in Stratford for no apparent reason.

It took 122 disjointed pages to get from the bank of the Thames to Mr. Shakespeare’s lodgings in Bishopsgate.

The point of the whole “best bed” mystery? she discovers the truth of his affair with the young Henry Wriothesley. She inquires how they do it, and he demonstrates. Thus begins the week of “unnatural” sex with her husband to celebrate his 30th birthday — in which she rapidly runs through role playing most of his best known plays (most not yet written in 1594) as their method of foreplay while repeatedly reminding you how much she likes this (and especially since there is no chance of pregnancy this way).

This is most boring version I can presently imagine of why being bequeathed “the second-best bed” in her husband’s will was not an insult (because the elaborate “playhouse” of a bed in which they spent the week of his 30th birthday was clearly “the best bed”).

[SHR · Rating 1 out of 5]

This has been described as a “modern masterpiece”; if so, clearly I just don’t get it, as I found it irritating and tedious.

It is supposedly written by Anne Hathaway, 7 years after her husband’s death. She talks of her dislike for “posey” and metaphor and her strong preference for plain language; then proceeds to drop metaphors and similes. I found the modern language and expressions used annoying, granted it was type-set in an older style font, so presumably that should have sufficed for setting it in a certain period...

The author aims to explain the expression “second-best bed” which Shakespeare leaves his wife. I really liked the premise, the idea of hearing from Anne’s POV is intriguing. However the way Nye attempts to provide us the answers to several literary mysteries and the suggestion that Shakespeare trialed the plots for his plays in the “best bed” means the book ends up basically being a literary dirty joke.

It is full of allusions and those who have read or studied Shakespeare will get more out of it than those who haven’t, and no doubt many would find it witty and well done but I'm not one of them.

[April Munday · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts well, establishing the characters of William and Anne in the first two sentences: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?" he enquired politely. "No thanks," I said.

There you have it: Mr Shakespeare the composer of poesy and Mrs Shakespeare the wife who has no time for it. The book goes on more or less in the same vein until they find some harmony over the course of Anne's week in London.

The book is in the first person, told from Anne's point of view. The tale goes back and forth in time covering Anne's seduction of her future husband; her time alone in Stratford with their children; the fates of their children; her husband's death and burial; and the reasons for writing it all down.

There are, of course, allusions to the plays and the sonnets and all of that is cleverly-done.

I enjoyed the book until the couple got to the top of the stairs in Mr Shakespeare's lodgings. At that point it took a turn for the worse. What promised to be a witty exploration of the Shakespeare's marriage turned into a rather bawdy expression of it.

[Stephen Wood · Rating 4 out of 5]

7 years after the death of William Shakespeare his widow Anne (Hathaway) recalls her life with him. Written in a style that gives a nod to what may have been the manner of speech of the time, it’s easy reading, funny and quite fascinating. Some of the things attributed to William Shakespeare may even have been true, although I’m not at all certain about the dodgy sexual practices Anne claims to have indulged in with him and upon which she dwells enthusiastically in the final third of the book.
Unusual, interesting and amusing, it’s a recommended read.

[Jessi · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book took an odd turn...

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The attraction of this book is without doubt the wonderful character and narrative voice that Nye has created for the eponymous Mrs Shakespeare. She is earthy and practical, writing with a straightforward and direct tone which is full of bathos and the perfect contrast to her husband’s elegant, playful tones. I enjoyed the way that she deliberately avoids using metaphor and simile as she considers these dishonest ways of speaking, and her down to earth deconstruction of the sonnet Shakespeare gives to her is a stroke of comic genius.

This book uses one fictional event, the visit of Anne Hathaway to her husband in London in 1594, as a lens through which to examine the possible relationship between Shakespeare and his much neglected wife. Throughout her story are anecdotes and thoughts taken from Shakespeare’s plays and I had fun spotting and identifying these. In particular, this book creates a reason behind Shakespeare’s odd-sounding bequest to his wife of the second best bed. I thought that this section of the novel, focussing on the unusual relations enjoyed my Mr and Mrs Shakespeare in the second best bed, was useful in that it explored the different reactions to and motivations for physical pleasure of the two main characters. However, it did become rather overstated and was a disproportionately long section in what is a short novel. On the whole though, I enjoyed the irreverent tone of the whole book, and found it to be a good read.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anne Hathaway tells of her one visit to see her hubby, WS in London, in 1594, on the occasion of his 30th birthday. She is sly, and perceptive, down-to-earth, not impressed by her husband's poeticizing--much like Nora Barnacle was not all that impressed with the nonsense that Jim Joyce was writing. WS takes her to his rooms, where he has a marvelous bed, his personal stage, he tells her, where he confesses that he got the money for it, and to buy into the playhouse, from his little friend, Henry Wriothesley, from whom he learned to enjoy buggery. He proceeds to introduce Anne to that pleasure, as he acts out all the plays he has not yet written, rogering her bottom very well indeed in the process. She likes it a lot, and the experience makes her fall in love with the husband she has not really felt that much for in the past.
Anne's voice is shrewd and knowing, she sees clearly the situation of her daughters and her husband. She confirms all the usual rumors--WS held horses outside the theater when he first came to London, he poached deer back in the West Country, he was unapologetically bi, he gave Anne the second best bed, because the best one was the one in London, where they fell in love for good. And, she reveals that she was the Dark Lady. That last, not everyone knew.
I'll remember WS as a dreamy, language-besotted jerk with bad teeth, who wasn't much in the sack until he could practice what he really enjoyed, anal sex. An amusing little bagatelle of a book.

[Kaion · Rating 2 out of 5]

Summary: Mrs. Shakespeare, now widowed, recollects her one trip to London to visit her famous bard husband- deconstructing the man, the myth, the image. Anne's no poet- she's down-to-earth, unlearned, bawdy, and clever all on her own terms- unveiling a William who is the vain, romantic, dishonest, slippery, posing, fragile man of her love.

Review: Nye manages to create a truly funny heroine and some very laugh out loud moments of the punny kind. Probably interesting to Shakespeare enthusiasts who have pondered his mostly undocumented private and family life. To the rest of us, there's still lots of clever discourse on the relationships between wife and husband & life and art.

Ultimately, however, the story is pretty one-note, and the later third is basically all sexual fetishist category and not particularly interesting to the rest of us. Rating: 2/5 stars

[Marvin · Rating 1 out of 5]

A wasted flight of imagination. The author imagines what would have happened in a special bed when Anne Hathaway (Mrs. Shakespeare) meets William Shakespeare in London for a week after they've been separated for a number of years. The author rightly apologizes for taking 122 pages (of a 219-page book) of mostly irrelevant ramblings to get to the meat of the story, & then all it amounts to is the pleasure they take in acting out a variety of scenes, all of which lead to anal sex in a bed that was the gift of a male patron. What a disgusting waste of time!

[Claudia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting premise...Mrs. Shakespeare talks to us about her life away from the Mr. and their few years together. Over and over she talks about how she's never read anything he's written, and how their daughter, Susanna, tells her about his works. "Sir Smile, I used to call him. He wasn't good at much but he was very good at smiling." Disturbing, enlightening, entertaining. This book poses as many questions as it answers. Nye did his research and breathed life into a mysterious woman.

[Miramira Endevall · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very bizarre, somewhat depressing, great sex.

SPOILER:

I love the fact that because she refuses to read her husband's works, Mrs. Shakespeare has no clue that the domination scenes she plays out with her husband in his second-best bed are in fact scenes from his greatest plays. I really enjoyed the eroticism of this book, but perhaps because it appeals to some of my particular kinks.

Thanks, JFi. Payback is assured.

[Mckinley · Rating 2 out of 5]

For readers attracted to Shakespearian literature, commentary, etc. Nye takes tales of Shakespeare's life and weaves them into this story told by Anne Hathaway. While focused on recounting a week she spends with her husband, she provides much background about her family. She works on building up a shocker but it wasn't much of one at all.
I think I might have liked it better without the Shakespeare connection. Not sure if I'll look at his other books.

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amusing, irreverent, and cheeky portrait of the Bard seen through the eyes of his wife. I thought the book was well done, and the author explained the basis of many of the assumptions used in the plot--so although the story may not be entirely factual, the story was entertaining and believable. I laughed out loud at some of the scenes. Famous men through the eyes of their wives may well need to be a new subgenre of fiction!

[Michael Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this brief book, told from Ann Hathaways point of view... funny and very bawdy. Because I enjoyed it, I then obtained a copy of "The Late Mr. Shakespeare" by Robert Nye, which is a full and sometimes hysterical biography, and really goes into many controversial issues about the "Immortal Bard." Both novels are wonderfully tongue-in-cheek!

[R.J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deliciously naughty novella that explores an imagined life of Shakespeare's wife, one in which she is not some aged shrew but a curious, willing wife. the companion book Mr. Shakespeare is not nearly as enthralling.

[Carol · Rating 2 out of 5]

What I didn't like about this book is the narrowness of the story, told in journal-like form, about one singular event in the lives of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. We didn't learn very much about her.

[Teresa · Rating 2 out of 5]

A spicy little book about Shakespeare's wife and why he left her the "second best bed" in his will. From my research of domestic arrangements in Europe for many centuries, the best bed was kept for guests or for the parents of the younger couple, and second best bed was the marital bed.

[Steven]

Offers a conjecture on the mystery of the second best bed; verges on pornography; not Nye's best work

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as the Late Mr. Shakespeare, but still damn good.