Home › Books › North by Shakespeare: A Rogue Scholar's Quest for…
North by Shakespeare: A Rogue Scholar's Quest for the Truth Behind the Bard's Work
by
46/99
Critics
24/99
Readers
n/a
Scholars
27/99
Rating
66/99
Volume
34/99
Rating
13/99
Volume
—
Sign in to add to your shelf, rate, or review this book.
About This Book
The true story of a self-taught sleuth's quest to prove his eye-opening theory about the source of the world's most famous plays, taking readers inside the vibrant era of Elizabethan England as well as the contemporary scene of Shakespeare scholars and obsessives. What if Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare . . . but someone else wrote him first? Acclaimed author of The Map Thief, Michael Blanding presents the twinning narratives of renegade scholar Dennis McCarthy and Elizabethan courtier Sir Thomas North. Unlike those who believe someone else secretly wrote Shakespeare, McCarthy argues that Shakespeare wrote the plays, but he adapted them from source plays written by North decades before. In Shakespeare's Shadow alternates between the enigmatic life of North, the intrigues of the Tudor court, the rivalries of English Renaissance theater, and academic outsider McCarthy's attempts to air his provocative ideas in the clubby world of Shakespearean scholarship. Through it all, Blanding employs his keen journalistic eye to craft a captivating drama, upending our understanding of the beloved playwright and his "singular genius." Winner of the 2021 International Book Award in Narrative Non-Fiction
Preview
Reviews
"He called it North by Shakespeare, and in a neat gesture of writerly magnanimity, Blanding adopts that title in order to tell the story of McCarthy's journey, North's adventures, and, ultimately, the whole Shakespeare authorship question ..."
"[Blanding] also delves into Tudor history, illuminating North's life as a traveler and aristocrat ..."
"McCarthy does not join those who have denied Shakespeare's authorship, typically attributing the Bard's works to Francis Bacon or Edward de Vere."
"Shakespeare fans and readers who enjoy the thrill of a good bibliographic treasure hunt will want to check this out."
"Not surprisingly, McCarthy's arguments have not been welcomed by Shakespearean scholars; too many, he asserts, are invested in the image of Shakespeare as a solitary genius."
"Bardolators will want to read this book; for others, it's an optional read."
Reader Reviews
0 reviewsSign in to write a review.
No reader reviews yet. Be the first!