Shakespeare and the Countess: The Battle that Gave Birth to the Globe

by Chris Laoutaris

The colorful story of the creation of the Globe Theatre—as a result of the dramatic confrontation between Lady Elizabeth Russell and William Shakespeare.

In November 1596, a woman signed a document that would nearly destroy the career of William Shakespeare . . .

Who was this woman who played such an instrumental, yet little known, role in Shakespeare's life? Never far from controversy when she was alive—she sparked numerous riots and indulged in acts of breaking-and-entering, bribery, blackmail, kidnapping and armed combat—

Lady Elizabeth Russell, the self-styled Dowager Countess of Bedford, has been edited out of public memory, yet the chain of events she set in motion would make Shakespeare the legendary figure we all know today. Lady Elizabeth Russell’s extraordinary life made her one of the most formidable women of the Renaissance. The daughter of King Edward VI’s tutor, she blazed a trail across Elizabethan England as an intellectual and radical Protestant. And, in November 1596, she became the leader of a movement aimed at destroying William Shakespeare’s theatrical troupe—a plot that resulted in the closure of the Blackfriars Theatre but the construction, instead, of the Globe. Providing new pieces to this puzzle, Chris Laoutaris's rousing history reveals for the first time this startling battle against Shakespeare and the Lord Chamberlain's Men.

Genres: History, Shakespeare, Nonfiction, Biography, Historical, 16th Century, Theatre

528 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 2014

Reviews

[happy]

The title is a bit of a misnomer - Shakespeare or his theater doesn't appear until about 2/3rds into the book. This really a biography of Elizabeth Russell - the self-styled Dowager Countess of Bedford. I say self-styled because her second husband was the heir to the Earldom of Bedford, but died so soon after his father that he never became the Earl. Despite of that Elizabeth decided she was the Dowager and used the term for the rest of her life. She was in constant battle with the actual Earl and his family for the use of the term. Despite of the title, I found this a fascinating look at life among the nobility in late Tudor times.

Elizabeth was a highly educated and an extremely strong willed and able lady in an era that didn't allow that in women. She was also well connected at court. Her sister married William Cecil, Elizabeth I's first minster and she was close friends with both the Earl of Leicster and his son the Earl of Essex. Her first marriage was to one of Elizabeth I’s ambassadors to France. Upon his appointment, Elizabeth decided she was going to accompany him and dispite the fact she was pregnant she did. This went against all the norms and caused a minor scandal along with money problems. His stipend only came to about half of what it took to get the family there and keep them in the style an Ambassador to the French Court had to maintain. After her first husband died, she married the heir to the Earl of Bedford. Following his death, she really came into her own. With the inheritance from the Bedford estates in dispute, she had to find a source of income for her and her family. She was able to put forth a claim to be the keeper of one of the Queens castles and she was successful. At the time she was the only woman keeper in England. She was also very involved and in many ways a leader in the Puritan movement.

She is also portrayed as vengeful. If someone didn’t do things the way she wanted, she did her utmost to make the rue the day they crossed her! This included relatives and family servants. She often gifted real estate or holding that she had to others. When they didn’t do with it what she wanted, she often tried to rescind the gifts.

Much of the narrative details her litigious nature. She was constantly involved in lawsuits to maintain what she saw as her legal rights and status. Sometimes she was successful, but often she was not. She never seemed to let her failures slow her down. When she failed in one avenue, she was always looking for another path.

As a Puritan she did not appreciate having a theater in her neighborhood. When Burbage and Shakespeare built their Theater in Blackfriars in the mid 1590's, she decided she didn't want it there and promptly sued. Having friends at court helped her win her suit and forced Shakespeare and Burbage to find another venue. This venue became the Globe Theater. One interesting scene is where Shakespeare’s company of actors dismantle the Blackfriers theater for building materials for the Globe, without official permission of course.

The last 100 pages or so of the narrative looks at the contemporary politics in some of Shakespeare’s plays, esp Richard II, Henry IV - parts I and II as well as Henry V. If the narrative is correct, Shakespeare was playing with fire and was lucky not to end up in jail or worse. As it is Shakespeare got the last laugh, because when Elizabeth passed, they were able to regain control of Blackfriers and reopen the theater; giving the group a venue to put on plays whatever the season.

The portrait, Mr. Laoutaris paints is of a very complex, determined woman in an age where that was not appreciated.

I would rate it 3.75 if GR allowed, so I rounded up.

[Steve Donoghue]

This Shakespeare book - big, generous, quite readable - examines the effects Lady Elizabeth Russell may or may not have had on the world of Shakespeare's theater, and it's very good on both the lady and the theater parts of the story, even Shakespeare himself, as always, continues to be elusive. My review here: https://www.stevedonoghue.com/review-...

[Kathy]

This is a biography of a well educated, independent minded, sixteenth century gentlewoman. Born Elizabeth Cooke, twice married, she was responsible for keeping Shakespeare's company of players from opening an indoor theater hard by her home in the Blackfriars district of London, but she was remarkable in many other ways, too. Anyone who thinks uppity women are a recent development needs to read this book and rethink the criticism of characters in some historical novels as being "too modern."

[Sarak77]

"One would like to think that, after more than four centuries, Elizabeth Russell can now be recognized for her real achievements, that the apparition of the 'wicked' murderess can at last be dispelled, allowing her to step out from behind the curtain of history which has all too often obscured women's roles as the co-creators of England's rich and wonderful heritage;" writes Chris Laoutaris in the concluding sentence of this intricate history of one of Elizabethan England's lesser known figures. Well hold not thy breath, Dr Chris because I just googled Bisham Abbey, Elizabeth Russell's former home, and found it's now Bisham Abbey Weddings and Events, and they've erased the proto-feminist puritan meddler completely.

[QOH]

This is really a 3.5 or a 3. There was great scholarship here...but it was one of the most frustrating biographies I've ever read.

First off: Shakespeare? Oh, his name's first in the title and he pops up now and again, but this is not about Shakespeare, except for the bit where the Countess (who isn't really a countess, because her husband predeceases his father, the earl) boots his company out of Blackfriars rather late in both their lives, leading to the building of the Globe, and possibly some lines in some plays referring to her, her family, or her associates.

I don't know if the author or the publisher didn't think Elizabeth Russell wasn't interesting on her own, but her involvement with Shakespeare was nothing to, say, her involvement with Cecil (her nephew) or various Bacons (ditto) or Essex (more complicated). Or her own work on what was truly radical theology.

Which is a shame, because by herself, she was quite a character, entirely deserving of her own biography.

And if this were a biography of Elizabeth Russell straight up without the gussying up of nearly every chapter ending with, "But little did she know the effect of" or "Soon this would have dire consequences for" or...pick your favorite serial cliffhanger ending, it would not have been so maddening. Seriously, the editor should be shot, along with the person who came up with the title and the person who decided not to use footnotes (I hate non-denominated endnotes. Just saying).

Normally when I bitch about wordiness, it's because the author is just, well, too damned verbose. There are far too many adverbs in this book, and I'd recommend that the author be hit with a water balloon for each one. (And dunking for every cliffhanger chapter ending, although it could easily be turned into a drinking game.) But while he might spend a great deal of time on a very minor issue--while I'm keen on Theodore Beza, I doubt everyone reading this expecting to learn something earth shattering about Shakespeare was--there might be almost nothing about something that generated rolls of paper in Chancery. (Almost none of which, it beggars to be said again, has to do with Shakespeare.) And this lady was litigious.

I caught a few oddities, like the referral of a someone made a knight as a peer. Maybe it worked that way back then; I don't know. My understanding was that a peer is a baron on up.

In any case: if you want something about Shakespeare, this isn't it. If you want something about a strong Elizabethan proto-feminist, this IS it, but you'll have to wade through a lot of adverbs. Break out your Hunters.

[Diane]

The attention to details woven together to tell the story of Lady Elizabeth Russell marks Laoutaris as an archivist, detective, and researcher. Seemingly leaving no stone unturned, he retells the story of this amazing woman, who was ahead of her time as an educated, intelligent, and well-connected political activist. She certainly made things happen the way she wanted events to go down! She was a formidable enemy and a powerful friend,not to mention overbearing relative to her children, in-laws, sisters, etc. She pulled strings like an accomplished puppeteer. Laoutaris covers all aspects of this history from culture to religion to politics to judicial proceedings to theater life.

I must admit that about half way through I got bogged down and needed to take a break. With so many details and people to absorb, understand, and keep straight, there were times when I felt a bit daunted. But Laoutaris ultimately kept me turning the pages to discover what happens next.

I chanced upon Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell during my hiatus from Shakespeare and the Countess. This fiction provided me with spark to dive back into the non-fiction of the SatC. The fiction fleshed out and gave voice to what may have been playing out as the theaters came into use and into question. Turns out that Fools and Mortals worked as a good companion book for Shakespeare and the Countess.

[Carole Hunt]

Stopped and started with this book as very detailed about things that happened so long ago. However shows what fantastic research the author undertook and praise for that. Lots of historical information of time as well as Shakespeare bits.

[Carole P. Roman]

Well researched biography of the formidable self styled Dowager Countess, Lady Elizabeth Russell. Unapologetic, fearless, and willing to battle, she spearheaded a group determined to keep William Shakespeare's acting troupe from preforming in Blackfriars Theaters. Lost in history, Chris Laoutaris brings the infamous "Grey Lady," back to life, giving a reader a window into the climate of Elizabethan England, as well as a backdrop to the birth of the Globe theatre. This is a detailed book about the life and times of people who influenced the court. It is said that art imitates life, and perhaps Shakespeare was even moved enough to use his adversary Russell when he created some of his most vile female characters.

[Valerie]

This book was not what I was expecting, yet it was still a somewhat interesting read. I was hoping to learn more about Shakespeare but there is very little about him. There is a decent analysis and speculation on the histories behind the plays he created. But this book focuses heavily on Elizabeth Russell, who at times, was an intelligent and inspiring lady. And the at other times, cunning and evil! Three out of five stars because the book is somewhat misleading. Again, Lady Russell is a fascinating character but I wanted to know more about Shakespeare.

[Yasmin]

A very interesting and well written book on a little known history of Shakespeare and the Globe. The only issue I have is the author calling the class of English and French as "race riots". The discrimination against the French was in fact xenophobia, not a riot over race.

[Allie C]

Average. I enjoyed the story but the writing style was very verbose and at times all over the place. Some stories would be repeated and then jump to someone else. A lot of characters and it could be confusing to remember them all. I felt it could have been trimmed down.

[Michelle]

Could not finish it.

[Jbondandrews]

Lady Elizabeth Russell seemed like a fascinating woman though I would have liked to have found out more about the learning she gained.

[Hugh Coverly]

An interesting book but not very exciting.

[Sandra]

Elizabeth Russell was a formidable woman in Elizabethan England who shared close links to powerful families of the court and was herself a well known leader of the Protestant movement both in England and abroad. Her family name of Cooke was well known to have produced daughters that had been trained in academia by the very tutor of Edward VI himself. These girls would each grow up to be influential at the very top of their society; her sister Mildred would marry Lord Burghley, the Queen's most trusted adviser and was well known to influence his decisions. Elizabeth, twice a widow, would fight for her rights with the very fire that would make her a formidable enemy to Shakespeare. She is seen intertwining through the great political turmoil of the times and her strength of will would create enemies of some of the most powerful men that surrounded the Queen. A woman who bribed the Queen of England into letting her be the custodian of Donnington Castle and who refused to let the laws of the day deprive her of her right to be called Dowager. Elizabeth comes across as a fascinating woman whose family may have been the butt of several of Shakespeare's plays and who is the very focus of the fight to keep the Blackfriar's theater from opening, frustrating Shakespeare's plans. A fascinating woman who definitely needs to be brought out into the spotlight again.

I would have enjoyed this book much more though if the author had simply cut back on the repetitiousness of his information. Because of the sheer amount of information about Elizabeth's involvement in contemporary affairs and the relationships she fostered with the elites of the time and the enemies she relentlessly pursued, there is a plethora of valuable material to wade through. This is made a ponderous task though when one has to reread the same information presented again and again. A well researched book has been made heavy by poor editing.

However, having said this I would still recommend this as a must read title for anyone who is interested in the Elizabethan time period or interested in historical women who were not afraid to stand up and be heard. Elizabeth was influential in her time and was not to be taken lightly and Laoutaris does her justice by showing how she may also have been one of the greatest influences on Shakespeare and his plays, and may have unwittingly helped to create the greatest theater of the day, The Globe.

[Roman Clodia]

Elizabeth Russell was one of the famous Cooke girls whose sisters married William Cecil and Nicholas Bacon (father to Francis). This is a very good biography of Elizabeth who was one of those formidable Elizabethan women like Bess of Hardwick and Elizabeth I herself: immensely well-educated, Machiavellian in her devotion to her family and her Puritan form of Protestantism, she buried two husbands and was never anxious about making her opinions known, even through the law-courts. In 1596 Elizabeth Russell got together a petition to stop James Burbage’s plans to build an indoor theatre at Blackfriars – and so her story intersects with that of Shakespeare.

This is a book full of fine research but the framing story – that Russell stopped Shakespeare’s career in its tracks – feels overstated and unconvincing. Indeed, even bringing together Russell and Shakespeare into a single book feels like a ploy to give an academic thesis a popular appeal. Throughout, Laoutaris refers to ‘Shakespeare’s playhouse’, ‘Shakespeare’s company’, ‘Shakespeare’s Blackfriars Theatre’ when, in fact, they are no such thing: the book itself points out that Shakespeare was no more than a sharer in the company along with eight others, and that while his investment was about £50, James Burbage put up the £600 for Blackfriars with another £400 spent on renovations. It was actually Burbage’s company, Burbage’s theatre, and Russell’s petition had the biggest effect on Burbage.

So the story of Elizabeth Russell is re-told with verve and energy, and Laoutaris keeps a firm hold on his material when navigating the complicated politics of Elizabeth’s reign, and the intersections between politics, religion and the theatre. I just felt like the Shakespeare link is a contrived and unconvincing add-on that has a far lesser part to play in the story than the title of the book would indicate.

[David]

It is an unfortunate disappointment that the publisher of this excellent book mistitled it, most likely for marketing purposes. The controversy between Shakespeare and the protagonist-hero of the book, Elizabeth Cooke Hoby Russell is but a very small part of the work. The review comments on the back cover by various grandees also focus on this small incident in the life of Elizabeth Russell, when the book really covers the political involvement of an influential and politically-well connected woman over about 50 years during the reign of the first Queen Elizabeth and her successor James I.

Elizabeth Russell seems to be someone who determined what she wanted, then went after it, and did not let much get in the way. She used every tool she had, would not take no for an answer, and when she suffered setbacks (and there were many), she jumped right back into the fray. A fascinating person, no doubt, but someone who needed to dominate every sphere in which she operated.

Author Chris Laoutaris is to be commended for his outstanding research, and pulling it all together into a magnificent tale of politics in Elizabethan England.

[Brenna]

Shakespeare and the Countess is a well researched study on Lady Elizabeth Russell(the Grey Lady), of Elizabethan politics, and how Shakespeare moved from the Blackfriars Theater to the Globe. The biggest issue with this book is the length and the amount of information it actually contains.
I am not a history or Shakespearean scholar, but I did find that, while slow moving because of amount covered in the book, was not overly difficult to get through. Yes, someone who studies history, politics, or Shakespeare may get more out of it, but it definitely is an interesting read, especially about Lady Russell's political pull at that time.


****This book was received in a Goodreads Firstreads giveaway from publisher, Pegasis.****

[Krystal]

This book was well researched and full of historical information. The immense detail Mr. Laoutaris provides really enables the reader to conceptualize the challenging figure that was Elizabeth Russell. I especially enjoyed reading the selected excerpts of Elizabeth's personal correspondence; it really helped me comprehend the chilly ferocity of her nature. As other reviewers have mentioned, the book doesn't focus as much on Shakespeare as the title would lead you to believe. However, it was still a wealth of information on the political angst and social practices of the time period. *I received this book as part of a Goodreads-Firstreads Giveaway*

[Stan Bland]

Interesting with very detailed research but as posted elsewhere not the easiest of reads. Writing does not flow and you are fairly far into the book before Shakespeare appears. Not that preceding pages are irrelevant they do set the scene(s). Just takes a while to get to the plot described in the title. Alternatively, you could look on it as one of the more readable historical research texts.

[Rose]

Interesting and some impressive research, but captions to some illustrations say the Countess designed some of the memorials and yet not said in text. Interesting selection of black and white illustrations.

[Pip Jennings]

I found this a real slog. Interesting, but very hard to read.