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Burning Shakespeare
How would the world look without the influence of Shakespeare pervading so many aspects of life and culture and belief?
In a race against time, with the fate of lives and souls hanging in the balance, the forces of good and evil battle to save or destroy Shakespeare's works. Which side works to which end? That is the question, isn't it?
Would we be better off without Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, and the others, or would the safety valve that theatrical expression provides back up into an explosion of apocalyptic proportions? Follow the cast of this tale—from university student to petty thief to talk show host—as they travel through time and space in Burning Shakespeare.
In a race against time, with the fate of lives and souls hanging in the balance, the forces of good and evil battle to save or destroy Shakespeare's works. Which side works to which end? That is the question, isn't it?
Would we be better off without Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, Othello, and the others, or would the safety valve that theatrical expression provides back up into an explosion of apocalyptic proportions? Follow the cast of this tale—from university student to petty thief to talk show host—as they travel through time and space in Burning Shakespeare.
- GenresFantasy
395 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 16, 2022
6 people are currently reading
52 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 11, 2023
Burning Shakespeare quickly became one of my favorite reads of the year. The book is wildly inventive, and I found myself anxiously turning pages to see if I could ever reach the limits of A.J. Hartley's imagination. (I'm pretty sure I didn't - anyone who could come up with a book like this clearly has vast, untapped stores of fresh ideas constantly bubbling up inside of them.)
He starts with a series of original questions: What if someone really, really hated Shakespeare? And what if that person found a way to exploit a demonic pact to erase Shakespeare from the Western canon? And what if the only way to stop this from happening was to recruit a team of newly-dead souls to travel back in time and interfere?
This alone would have been enough to catch my interest, but Hartley doesn't stop there. The "what-ifs" keep coming: What if the good guys were led by an angel named Gladys, and what if she wasn't exactly authorized to carry out this mission? What if a case of mistaken identity meant that one of the time-traveling souls wasn't who they were counting on him to be? The secret to pulling off outrageous, in my opinion, is to take your story to the absolute limit, and then go one step further. Hartley definitely does that in Burning Shakespeare, and the result is a fresh, original take on an author who's been at the center of so much writing over the past four and a half centuries that it's hard to believe there are still new ways to approach him.
Not only is the plot inventive, but it's also smart. Hartley is clearly intelligent and well-educated, not only possessing the deep familiarity with Shakespeare and his works necessary to pull off a book such as this, but also demonstrating proficiency in fields such as theology, sociology, and moral philosophy. Yet the book never feels like an excuse for Hartley to put his erudition on display; rather, he uses his breadth of knowledge to add texture to the narrative.
Perhaps the book's greatest success is its ability to work on multiple levels. Those who are simply looking for an entertaining read will no doubt find it. But for those who want more from the books they read, Burning Shakespeare does not disappoint. Woven into the wild plot are several deep, nuanced questions about themes such as the power and purpose of literature, the ethics of representation, cultural relativism vs. universalism, and the like.
In short, I cannot recommend Burning Shakespeare highly enough. Smart, witty, original, and fun, there's enough between the covers to keep anyone occupied—and happy—for hours on end! This was my first time reading A.J. Hartley, but it definitely will not be my last.
He starts with a series of original questions: What if someone really, really hated Shakespeare? And what if that person found a way to exploit a demonic pact to erase Shakespeare from the Western canon? And what if the only way to stop this from happening was to recruit a team of newly-dead souls to travel back in time and interfere?
This alone would have been enough to catch my interest, but Hartley doesn't stop there. The "what-ifs" keep coming: What if the good guys were led by an angel named Gladys, and what if she wasn't exactly authorized to carry out this mission? What if a case of mistaken identity meant that one of the time-traveling souls wasn't who they were counting on him to be? The secret to pulling off outrageous, in my opinion, is to take your story to the absolute limit, and then go one step further. Hartley definitely does that in Burning Shakespeare, and the result is a fresh, original take on an author who's been at the center of so much writing over the past four and a half centuries that it's hard to believe there are still new ways to approach him.
Not only is the plot inventive, but it's also smart. Hartley is clearly intelligent and well-educated, not only possessing the deep familiarity with Shakespeare and his works necessary to pull off a book such as this, but also demonstrating proficiency in fields such as theology, sociology, and moral philosophy. Yet the book never feels like an excuse for Hartley to put his erudition on display; rather, he uses his breadth of knowledge to add texture to the narrative.
Perhaps the book's greatest success is its ability to work on multiple levels. Those who are simply looking for an entertaining read will no doubt find it. But for those who want more from the books they read, Burning Shakespeare does not disappoint. Woven into the wild plot are several deep, nuanced questions about themes such as the power and purpose of literature, the ethics of representation, cultural relativism vs. universalism, and the like.
In short, I cannot recommend Burning Shakespeare highly enough. Smart, witty, original, and fun, there's enough between the covers to keep anyone occupied—and happy—for hours on end! This was my first time reading A.J. Hartley, but it definitely will not be my last.
August 18, 2022
As we have sat in classrooms wondering why we must read plays of Romeo and Juliet and Othello, we often grunt with mental exhaustion. But, do we fully understand how big of an impact Shakespeare has on our current society? Join a team of individuals out to save the world in a unique mission.
The story is illuminating and will leave you having an appreciation for something you may have never expected. The quick-witted narrator takes you in and brings you on a wild adventure through time and history. Meet the Queen and the man himself, William Shakespeare, and others that you will either grow, hate, or understand better while getting a clearer vision of plays. You will laugh, cultivate empathy, and ponder the true meaning of our literature and the nuances of race, religion, and sexism in its historical context. And what we as a society can do with those lessons.
A quick note about the book itself, the hardcover version is beautiful. This book is one of my favorites with the page design, artwork on the dust cover, and more. I proudly set this out of my bookcase to show off to everyone who can see it
The story is illuminating and will leave you having an appreciation for something you may have never expected. The quick-witted narrator takes you in and brings you on a wild adventure through time and history. Meet the Queen and the man himself, William Shakespeare, and others that you will either grow, hate, or understand better while getting a clearer vision of plays. You will laugh, cultivate empathy, and ponder the true meaning of our literature and the nuances of race, religion, and sexism in its historical context. And what we as a society can do with those lessons.
A quick note about the book itself, the hardcover version is beautiful. This book is one of my favorites with the page design, artwork on the dust cover, and more. I proudly set this out of my bookcase to show off to everyone who can see it
July 21, 2022
A businessmen turned college president, fed up with everyone thinking students should study literature and theater instead of skills corporate America can use, strikes a deal with the devil to go back in time and destroy all of Shakespeare's plays. An angel recruits a trio of the recently dead to go back and save them. This gets complicated, more so because Xavier (black guy on Team Angel) has strong feelings about Othello which leaves him wondering if the mission is worthwhile.
Hartley knows his Shakespeare. The book is a lot of fun, reminiscent of Good Omens while staking out its own territory.
Hartley knows his Shakespeare. The book is a lot of fun, reminiscent of Good Omens while staking out its own territory.
August 28, 2022
I really enjoyed this book.
The humor was great - often causing me to laugh in surprise and delight, and I loved the concept, story and message.
The pace was quick, sometimes a little too much for me -- I would have liked more scene/setting details or internal thoughts -- but, it kept me reading past my bedtime.
For those who love Shakespeare and/or art and history in general, read this. It's very entertaining, pithy and a great defense of those 'difficult' plays.
The humor was great - often causing me to laugh in surprise and delight, and I loved the concept, story and message.
The pace was quick, sometimes a little too much for me -- I would have liked more scene/setting details or internal thoughts -- but, it kept me reading past my bedtime.
For those who love Shakespeare and/or art and history in general, read this. It's very entertaining, pithy and a great defense of those 'difficult' plays.
May 11, 2022
This book was so thoughtful and humorous and full of interesting characters. The heroes are relatable and the issues they have with Shakespeare aren’t shied away from. The conversation around art and it’s effect on humanity is a great one. Whether you like or loathe Shakespeare I recommend this fun read!
May 10, 2022
Time travel. Humor. Shakespeare! This book astounds. A mix of Good Omens and Jodi Taylor's Time Police series, the plot is great, I love the quotes, the characters and how it ends. I will be reading more of A. J. Hartley.
February 4, 2023
It took me a bit to get into this. At first it felt like it was trying too hard, though I'm not entirely sure if that was just my mood while reading it or the writing itself. I had a hard time caring until we got past all the explanations (and the refusals to accept them) and into the actual action. But once we got there, I enjoyed it immensely. The laughs were solid, the references were clever, and the discussions of the merits of the texts felt genuine even if they didn't cover any new ground for me. The characters we were supposed to like were very likable and felt real enough. The ones we were supposed to dislike were a bit on the absurd side but, sadly, still realistic enough if you've been paying attention to the culture wars in the US. Overall, the story worked: it was very entertaining and posed interesting things to think about without detracting at all from the narrative.
August 11, 2023
Fantastic book!
All of A J Hartley's book are good, with engaging characters and a fast moving plot, but this...chefs kiss! Funny, touching, and thoughtful. A fun read...and Shakespeare!
All of A J Hartley's book are good, with engaging characters and a fast moving plot, but this...chefs kiss! Funny, touching, and thoughtful. A fun read...and Shakespeare!
March 1, 2023
Fun and thoughtful exploration of good and evil and how the two are closely intertwined. Filled with wit and humor. Good Omens intervenes in current university dilemmas.
September 23, 2023
This book was very different than what I thought it was going to be. I thought it would show what the modern world would be like without Shakespeare. How our language would have been different. Our literature and theatrical tropes would be different, but that was not the case. Most of the book takes place in the time of Shakespeare there are two teams of time Travelers that are trying to either destroy or save Shakespeare’s work. There is a lot of discussion about should every work of Shakespeare be saved. The main focus is on particular play and the racism , of that play. of course the modern characters are looking at it through modern eyes, but it would’ve been nice to have a discussion of how the play was perceived in Shakespeare’s time period. The book touches on how Shakespeare is perceived in modern time and how he is problematic in the modern time, but very little discussion on, when the plays and sonnets were written. Overall it is a very interesting read. It tries to be in the style of Terry Pratchett. You also have an angel and demon as you do in Good Omens.
June 8, 2023
Somewhat reminiscent of Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens and a little bit of C.E.S. Wood’s Heavenly Discourse essays (I realize that's an obscure reference for most), Hartley’s Burning Shakespeare combines Shakespeare history, angelic and demonic forces, time travel, and social commentary to weave together a fascinating narrative of adventure. It’s a blend of historical fiction, fantasy, and a dash of science fiction. With focus on the idea of how Shakespeare’s works have changed over time and what they mean to us today, Burning Shakespeare approaches how different people relate to the Bard’s work.
When a pompous college board member, with a vile hatred of Shakespeare, makes a deal with a demon - he plans to destroy all of Shakespeare’s plays at the source and eliminate the Bard’s hold on today’s world. Meanwhile, an angel recruits three, somewhat unwilling, participants to help combat this devilish plan and keep Shakespeare very much alive – both literally and figuratively.
From present day to Elizabethan and Jacobean London, from the depths of hell to a purgatory burger joint, from stealing the reading material of Queen Elizabeth I at Richmond Palace to a performance of Othello for James I at Whitehall to the 1613 fire at the Globe theatre, from petty and ignorant hatred to a pure evil force, from the beauty of how Shakespeare has shaped our world, to the problematic elements, such as misogyny and racism, that have still endured throughout time - Burning Shakespeare is one non-stop ride.
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you have any interest or love of Shakespeare, you will highly enjoy this tale! If you’re unsure about or unfamiliar with the Bard, then what a great way to get introduced!
When a pompous college board member, with a vile hatred of Shakespeare, makes a deal with a demon - he plans to destroy all of Shakespeare’s plays at the source and eliminate the Bard’s hold on today’s world. Meanwhile, an angel recruits three, somewhat unwilling, participants to help combat this devilish plan and keep Shakespeare very much alive – both literally and figuratively.
From present day to Elizabethan and Jacobean London, from the depths of hell to a purgatory burger joint, from stealing the reading material of Queen Elizabeth I at Richmond Palace to a performance of Othello for James I at Whitehall to the 1613 fire at the Globe theatre, from petty and ignorant hatred to a pure evil force, from the beauty of how Shakespeare has shaped our world, to the problematic elements, such as misogyny and racism, that have still endured throughout time - Burning Shakespeare is one non-stop ride.
I don’t want to give too much away, but if you have any interest or love of Shakespeare, you will highly enjoy this tale! If you’re unsure about or unfamiliar with the Bard, then what a great way to get introduced!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews