And Then I Read: FOOLS AND MORTALS by Bernard Cornwell

My brother Doug recommended this book by an author he likes, and I found it excellent.

It takes place in London in Shakespeare’s time, and the main character is Shakespeare’s younger brother Richard, who followed him to a career on stage, joining the same company. William and Richard have a difficult relationship, possibly William is a bit jealous of Richard’s good looks, and William does not offer him much help. In fact, Richard is stuck with playing female roles, even though he’s getting too old for them, and is practically penniless. As the story takes place William has written two new plays: A Midsummer Night’s Dream, to be performed at the wedding of their sponsor’s daughter, and Romeo and Juliet, to be premiered at the company’s playhouse. The company has many Puritan enemies who want to stop the showing of plays altogether, as well as rival companies who lust after their scripts, and Richard is implicated in a plot to steal William’s new plays. When that happens, he must prove his innocence and retain his place as an actor by somehow getting them back. That makes the most exciting part of this fine novel, which not only brings the period and the plays to life, but so many of the people of the time as well, from Queen Elizabeth down to the very poor living in the streets.

Highly recommended, a fine combination of historical fiction, mystery, suspense, and a window into what makes Shakespeare and his plays so timeless and memorable.

The post And Then I Read: FOOLS AND MORTALS by Bernard Cornwell appeared first on Todd's Blog.