Carolyn Meyer's historical fiction, such as Marie, Dancing, is popular for its unique perspectives. Loving Will Shakespeare is the tale of Agnes Anne Hathaway. There are few details known about the girl who-though eight years his senior-would eventually become wife to the Bard. Meyer's imagining of her story will inspire listeners to learn more. "... teenage girls will relate to Anne's rebellion against life's limitations and her fear of never being loved."-School Library Journal
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"Oh man, I just finished this awesome book. Poor Anne! What a sad, sad life. She grew up sad in a horrible household, and then continued her married life unhappy, and probably died unhappy. How terrible! And all because she got pregnant. All she wanted was a simple life, a simple household, husband, children, she didn't even care about money, she just wanted happiness! Just goes to show money truly cannot buy happiness. Boy do I appreciate my own life now even more! I, we, have choices, despite my handicap of being female. I certainly appreciate more living in this time. Women have certainly come a long way.... Thank God!!!!!"
— Iska (4 out of 5 stars)
" The author imagines what it was like for Agnes Hathaway falling in love with Will Shakespeare in their small village while she was 8 years his senior. It was an interesting story. Shakespeare's eventual long absences from his children and Agnes while he was being creative in London are very sad. The book ends abruptly with Shakespeare's impending, permanent return and Agnes/Anne musing about what that will be like. "
— Elizabeth, 1/22/2014" It's interesting to speculate what Shakespeare's life might have been like. In this story I feel sorry for Anne. I found the book to be very sad. "
— Cheryl, 1/16/2014" Well, good until the ending just went flat! ARGGGGGGGG! a sad end to a sad life! Woe! "
— Svea-ness, 1/13/2014" It was a good book till roughly the end. Her step-mom made me really mad. "
— Suzanne, 1/6/2014" This is a YA book but I am always drawn to books about Shakespeare. "
— Evalyn, 1/3/2014" This book. I don't know. Obviously, Anne Hathaway didn't have the happiest of lives, but did this really have to be so dull? And depressing? Bloody heck. The sun just don't shine at all you're reading this book. "
— NessÃma, 12/28/2013" This was really good! It makes me want to do some more research on William Shakespeare. I felt so bad for Anne in this book, though. I wish there was more known about her. "
— Alex, 12/24/2013" So sweet but so sad... "
— Jensen, 12/11/2013" This is the first Carolyn Meyer book I've read. It was really good! The writing was good, as was the story. And the historical events were very accurate. "
— Shelia, 12/7/2013" I listened to this book and it was ok. It gave some interesting details about Stratford-on-Avon and how life was there when Shakespeare was growing up. The book is really about Ann Hathaway's life (how the author imagined it)and dealt mostly with the time before she was married. "
— Trish, 10/13/2013" I really liked this book, except for the fact that I don't really like Shakespeare as a person any more. He's still a genius in writing, but he wasn't so smart as a person. "
— Mallory, 5/10/2013" Did you know William Shakespear was married and to a woman 10 year older than him? It was interesting seeing the other part of Shakespear, his origins and family that have nothing to do with the plays we read in high school. "
— Sara, 5/7/2013" This book was an interesting take on the life of William Shakespeare. I enjoyed most of it. "
— Riley, 4/20/2013" I was enraptured through most of the book, but the last four chapters lacked and then on the last page was a real history stating that all of the book is made up so I was frustrated when i finished. "
— Malea, 11/4/2012" This book dives into the viewpoint of Anne Hathaway - a girl who is unsuccessful with love and after such atrocities, finds herself in love with the younger (by 7 years) William Shakespeare, who she grew up with. The story was quite moving and kept you interested until the end. "
— Kristen, 9/6/2012" more from the perspective of Ann Hathaway than WS. good story, showing everyday life during his time. mostly set in the time before Will became famous. "
— Angie, 7/19/2012" This was an entertaining book. It was rather slow to start, but definitely picked up near the middle. Historical fictions are fun to read, especially when it's about an ancestor. Now I really want to know the line and where our name comes from. "
— Christi, 10/15/2011" I really liked this book. It is historical fiction, but I did learn somethings about William Shakespeare that I did not know. Easy read. "
— Kellie, 10/7/2011" I could not put this book and stayed up until 11:30 to finish it. Who knew that Mr. William Shakephere was such a player! "
— Maggie, 6/26/2011" This is a YA book but I am always drawn to books about Shakespeare. "
— Evalyn, 6/21/2011" more from the perspective of Ann Hathaway than WS. good story, showing everyday life during his time. mostly set in the time before Will became famous. "
— Angie, 4/13/2011" It's interesting to speculate what Shakespeare's life might have been like. In this story I feel sorry for Anne. I found the book to be very sad. "
— Cheryl, 4/2/2011" I wonder if this book follows Anne and William Shakespeare’s real life... I will have to find out. I liked this book! "
— Miranda, 3/21/2011" This was a very interesting book. It was nice to understand a different side of William Shakespeare from a female's point of view. I do recommend it more for girls because it is told from a female's point of view and because it relates to girls more. I really liked the book. "
— Carson, 2/3/2011" This book is so terribly awkward! So predictable as well, but not in a way that made me want to just skip to the end and read that. The stuff in the middle was very interesting as well. "
— Anna, 12/2/2010" This is the first Carolyn Meyer book I've read. It was really good! The writing was good, as was the story. And the historical events were very accurate. "
— Shelia, 11/17/2010Carolyn Meyer is the author of more than forty books for middle school and young adult readers, including Isabel, Jewel of Castilla for the Royal Diaries series. Where the Broken Heart Still Beats, White Lilacs, Drummers of Jericho, Gideon’s People, and Jubilee Journey were all named Best Books for Young Adults by the American Library Association. Her novel, Mary, Bloody Mary, was named a Notable Children’s Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies.
Katherine Kellgren (1969–2018), narrator and actress, appeared onstage in London, New York, and Frankfurt, including in the role of Laura in a regional production of The Glass Menagerie and appearances on Comedy Central. In recognition of her mastery of audiobook narration, she received many honors, including the prestigious Audie Awards, with four for best female narrator; the Odyssey Award; Publishers Weekly Listen Up Award; dozens of AudioFile magazine Earphones Awards; an AudioFile Golden Voice Award; Booklist Voice of Choice award; and acclaim from press and listener reviews.