Good Will: Shakespeare's Novel Life

by Arthur W. Wiggins, Barbara M. Wiggins

How did a simple glover's son with a Stratford grammar school education become the world's greatest playwright? It wasn't easy. This book intersperses family and financial challenges with sparse documented facts to provide a plausible, entertaining story of Shakespeare's life. Easy to read, accessible, and lively, this book provides a wide range of readers a unique opportunity to enjoy his works by visiting the root of his genius. Play-goers, students, book club members or anyone with curiosity about Shakespeare may enjoy this behind-the-scenes view, based on 25 years of study and travel by experienced educators and writers.

206 pages, Paperback

Published August 8, 2019

Reviews

[Bimal Patel · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was sent to me by the authors for free in return for my unbiased opinion of it. So here it is.

Shakespeare has been a man of mystery to many and such an antique personality that hardly someone outside studying English literature would express curiosity about Shakespeare's life. This book is for those who are peripherally interested in knowing about his life. It is a hybrid of facts as gathered by authors during their trips to England and some extrapolated ideas that fills in the gap and makes most sense. Thankfully the language is easy to comprehend and the book reads fast. Interspersed are sonnets as one would expect of any book on Shakespeare. Overall, I think this book is worth reading if you have even the slightest curiosity about Shakespeare and what the life would have been like when he was alive.

I particularly liked the last paragraph of this book. It is a conversation between business manager of The Globe after it was burnt down in an accident. The business manager asks Shakespeare who is tending his wife who has been injured in the fire while watching a play to commit his time and money to rebuild The Globe and keep writing more plays that makes money for the company and Will says " Cuthbert you disgust me. Your emphasis on money sounds more like my father than yours. Life isn't about money, it's about love. The love of my life and I are going home."

I think that is true no matter if you are a playwright genius like Shakespeare or someone who works long hours just to make ends meet.

[Nancy Simpson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just finished GOOD WILL! Bravo👏👏. I learned so much. I never had any knowledge of the context of the plays. The patrons, king, queens, groundlings.. all the people Will had to please and pamper. And those who tinkered with his words..... And the family he could not tend to ( good thing Gilbert was there .....while he lasted!). Disease and Death came so randomly and rampantly in those days. Learned so much about daily life in those times.
Thank you Arthur and Barbara Wiggins for YOUR labor of love. Time well spent for us groundlings!

[Marcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art and Barbara Wiggins humanize William Shakespeare in a delightful way. Shakespeare’s youth, his loves, his writing are treated with insight, humor, a bit of drama and a certain bit of reverence. With all of that, Good Will, Shakespeare’s Novel Life educates the reader with its knowledge of the people and times, entertains with its storytelling, and leaves the reader wanting more. A perfect introduction to Shakespeare for those who don’t know him and a book to enlighten or question for those who think they do, I highly recommend it.

[Csimplot Simplot · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book!!!