Peter Ackroyd

Light Paperback (1 lb or less)

Connecticut

The Biography

A TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR

Drawing on an exceptional combination of skills as literary biographer, novelist, and chronicler of London history, Peter Ackroyd surely re-creates the world that shaped Shakespeare--and brings the playwright himself into unusually vivid focus. With characteristic narrative panache, Ackroyd immerses us in sixteenth-century Stratford and the rural landscape-the industry, the animals, even the flowers-that would appear in Shakespeare's plays. He takes us through Shakespeare's London neighborhood and the fertile, competitive theater world where he worked as actor and writer. He shows us Shakespeare as a businessman, and as a constant reviser of his writing. In joining these intimate details with profound intuitions about the playwright and his work, Ackroyd has produced an altogether engaging masterpiece.

Shakespeare

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Peter Ackroyd; Simon Vance (Read by)

Hardcover (1 to 2 lbs)

New York

Die Biographie

Sheds new light on the life of the great Elizabethan playwright and poet, reassessing Shakespeare's work within the context of sixteenth-century London and Stratford-upon-Avon, as well as his lasting legacy for world literature.

This is the big one from Peter Ackroyd -- and a worthy companion to London: The Biography.
Only Peter Ackroyd can combine readable narrative and unique observation with a sharp eye for the fascinating fact. His method is to position Shakespeare in the close context of his world. In this way, he not only richly conjures up the texture of Shakespeare's life, but also imparts an amazing amount of vivid, interesting material about place, period and background.
Some snippets: Shakespeare was secretly a Roman Catholic; the witches in Macbeth were not hags but nymphs played by boys; the best bed was for guests which was why he bequeathed his wife his second best bed (the matrimonial bed in which he probably died); ham acting derives from the strutting walk which showed off the ham-strings; an actor called Will played female parts -- could it have been Shakespeare himself? And, the strongest bond in the plays is between father and daughter, perhaps reflecting Shakespeare's own family life. From the Hardcover edition.

Category - Non Fiction / History

Format - Paperback

Condition - Good

Listed - 3 months ago

Ships From - Connecticut

Est. Publication Date - Jun 2013

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Shakespeare: The Biography

ISBN: 9781400075980

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Category - Non Fiction / History

Format - Paperback

Condition - Good

Listed - 3 months ago

Ships From - Connecticut

Est. Publication Date - Jun 2013

Additional Information

Shakespeare: The Biography

ISBN: 9781400075980

Publisher Description

Tags

Shakespeare

By:

$7.00

Meet the seller

Discover more

Shakespeare

By: Peter Ackroyd; Simon Vance (Read by)

More from this seller

Additional titles by Peter Ackroyd; Simon Vance (Read by)

'Shakespeare' readers also enjoyed:

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