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22nd out of 177 books
—
1,156 voters
The Secret Life of William Shakespeare
by
Jude Morgan
The greatest writer of them all, brought to glorious life. How well do you know the man you love? How much do you think you know about Shakespeare? What if they were one and the same? He is an ordinary man: unwilling craftsman, ambitious actor, resentful son, almost good-enough husband. And he is also a genius. The story of how a glove-maker from Warwickshire became the gr...more
Hardcover, 400 pages
Published
April 12th 2012
by Headline Review
(first published March 1st 2012)
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‘…And all the men and women merely players’
If you're going to write a book about one of the greatest writers of all time, then you need your own writing skill to be able to stand the inevitable comparisons. Jude Morgan's does. This is a beautifully written novel, each word carefully crafted to draw the reader in to a world full of poetry and drama.
Morgan fills the gaps in our knowledge about Shakespeare's life by creating a character who is completely convincing and compelling - a man who quest...more
If you're going to write a book about one of the greatest writers of all time, then you need your own writing skill to be able to stand the inevitable comparisons. Jude Morgan's does. This is a beautifully written novel, each word carefully crafted to draw the reader in to a world full of poetry and drama.
Morgan fills the gaps in our knowledge about Shakespeare's life by creating a character who is completely convincing and compelling - a man who quest...more
The Secret Life of William Shakespeare - by Jude Morgan.
Loved the cover of the paperback - and the title, of course. Wasn't quite sure whether I would get on with it at first - the language was challenging, and since I read at night for relaxation, I nearly gave up. Glad I didn't!
Ben Jonson's language was much easier, so I read on - but by then Wm Shakespeare was also becoming real to me, and I was hooked.
Gradually, this extraordinary man, of whom we know so little apart from his work, became,...more
Loved the cover of the paperback - and the title, of course. Wasn't quite sure whether I would get on with it at first - the language was challenging, and since I read at night for relaxation, I nearly gave up. Glad I didn't!
Ben Jonson's language was much easier, so I read on - but by then Wm Shakespeare was also becoming real to me, and I was hooked.
Gradually, this extraordinary man, of whom we know so little apart from his work, became,...more
*REVIEWED FOR PUBLISHER*
I’m a big ol’ fan of Shakespeare’s many beautiful works, so when this novel exploring his early life and his start in the world of theatres and writing, I was over the moon!
Living up to the most famous writer in the world was always going to be a tall order, but Jude Morgan takes up the challenge with great aplomb and does a sterling job of showcasing The Bard’s works while presenting him as a real and very believable character in his own story – a fallible man striking o...more
I’m a big ol’ fan of Shakespeare’s many beautiful works, so when this novel exploring his early life and his start in the world of theatres and writing, I was over the moon!
Living up to the most famous writer in the world was always going to be a tall order, but Jude Morgan takes up the challenge with great aplomb and does a sterling job of showcasing The Bard’s works while presenting him as a real and very believable character in his own story – a fallible man striking o...more
The Bard is everywhere at the moment thanks to the World Shakespeare Festival which began on the date of his supposed birthday and definite demise, 23 April. Perfect timing for a new book from an excellent storyteller, Jude Morgan, who has written several historical novels including the critically acclaimed A Taste of Sorrow about the Bronte sisters.
In this intelligent and very readable novel, Morgan takes advantage of the fact that little is really known about the man behind the prolific playwr...more
In this intelligent and very readable novel, Morgan takes advantage of the fact that little is really known about the man behind the prolific playwr...more
When I took this novel up, my expectations were extremely high. Not only was it on a very interesting topic but it was written by one of my favorite authors. However, what I expected from this book was to know more about William Shakespeare's enigmatic life. It failed to do so.
The main focus of this novel was the love-story between Shakespeare and his wife, Anne. That certainly made for an interesting read however most of it was conjecture. There were of course instances from his life as a playe...more
The main focus of this novel was the love-story between Shakespeare and his wife, Anne. That certainly made for an interesting read however most of it was conjecture. There were of course instances from his life as a playe...more
Like many I struggled to get into this book and I had a hard time at first as the relationship between Will and Anne seemed so much fiction as we really know nothing about it. It may the romantic version of this book or it might have been a marriage of convenience - who knows? However once I got into it, it's a fascinating story and I loved the interweaving or historical characters likeBen Johnson and others including Mathew who plays the female parts in the performances. The author gives a cred...more
This is a beautifully written book. The prose is to die for and the characters are well rounded and interesting. The historical detail feels spot on too. The reason it's on my DNF shelf is that the effect is so strong that it's like eating strong cheese or dark chocolate - a little goes a very long way and it's my fault I didn't have the stamina to keep on going and to unravel some of the playful undercurrents. It's a book that got away from me in the end.
I have kept it and may well return to...more
I have kept it and may well return to...more
I loved A Taste of Sorrow, Jude Morgan's wonderful novel about the Brontes and hoped to be similarly thrilled by this window onto the world of William Shakespeare. Unfortunately the view is rather blurred, to the point of opacity and I was left feeling slightly bewildered and convinced I must have missed something which was so obvious to other readers....so I waited a month before reviewing, thinking that I'd soon experience some sort of epiphany, a dawn of understanding but nope...it didn't arr...more
I finished this book some days ago but couldn't write a review right away, I needed time to think through the conflicted feelings I was left with when I turned the last page. The writing definitely deserves five stars, it is rich and lush and lavish, dense with metaphor; it took me a long time to read, I could only digest it in small bites. The story on the other hand, is odd. It's not really about Shakespeare at all; Jude Morgan doesn't seem to ever get to grips with him as a character. Will's...more
I am still half way through, and I am reading it very slowly, because when it is over, I will be disappointed! Jude Morgan is an amazing writer, she feels for Will Shakespeare, she has captured him in such a way, that makes me love him more with each turning page.. He was a dreamer, a thinker, a man in love... and she has brought him to life. I cannot wait to continue reading, and to see how the book finishes, but it will be a book I will read again, and to hunt down her other books!
Good book - good read.
Presents an alternative and possibly believable version of Shakespeares missing years...
I want to read more by Jude Morgan
Presents an alternative and possibly believable version of Shakespeares missing years...
I want to read more by Jude Morgan
An interesting approach - with Shakespeare's relationships with his fellow writers, players and family told entirely through dialogue. Difficult to start, and not an entirely satisfying read, but I am pleased I persevered.
As the title states, this is an in-depth look at the life of William Shakespeare.
Another diamond from Jude Morgan. I read The Taste of Sorrow and loved it and I was delighted to find myself reading a book just as good.
This book is gorgeously detailed and poetically written. I believe Jude Morgan could be set up beside the likes of Shakespeare as one of the world's best artists.
Another diamond from Jude Morgan. I read The Taste of Sorrow and loved it and I was delighted to find myself reading a book just as good.
This book is gorgeously detailed and poetically written. I believe Jude Morgan could be set up beside the likes of Shakespeare as one of the world's best artists.
Apr 28, 2012
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Jude Morgan was born and brought up in Peterborough on the edge of the Fens and was a student on the University of East Anglia MA Course in Creative Writing under Malcolm Bradbury and Angela Carter.
A pseudonym used by Tim Wilson.
Also writes under the name Hannah March.
More about Jude Morgan...
A pseudonym used by Tim Wilson.
Also writes under the name Hannah March.
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Jul 01, 2012 01:43pm