The Lodger Shakespeare: His Life on Silver Street Audiobook

" A good piece of historical detective work on Silver Street and Shakespeare's connections with his landlady. "

" Like spending an evening with a chatty Elizbethan-history geek. I would adore spending an evening with a chatty Elizabethan-history geek, so I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Mileage will vary. "

" I didn't expect much from this book, but the author not only did an impressive amount of research, but made some interesting observations that brought Shakespeare to life in a way no other biography has. "

" I was looking forward to this - I loved Nichols' The Reckoning. But I should have remembered that all who attempt to create a viable life for Shakespeare seem to fall on their faces. The only really good one I've read was Michael Shapiro's 1599, and the reason that succeeded was because he focused on documented events going on during that year, as opposed to inventing a life for WS that tied into those same events. Ah, well. Read and learn. "

" More Shakespeareana: that's not a request, just a statement of fact. Nicholl takes an ambiguous sidelight of what little we know of Shakespeare's life, a deposition in a suit over non-payment of a dowry, and runs with it. The result: much interesting speculation on the sexual dynamics of the Mountjoy-Belott menage, some interesting speculation on Shakespeare's (hetero)sexuality, and just about anything you would care to know about Elizabethan and early Jacobean fashion. Entertaining enough, but it really doesn't go anywhere. Somewhat disappointing after Nicholl's masterful biography of Marlowe, THE RECKONING. "

" A lawsuit, tax records, a deep analysis of Pericles. Best Shakespeare book I've seen, well, ever. "

" Nicholl unearthed a lawsuit from 1612 in which Shakespeare testified. From this, combined with a deep knowledge of Jacobean England, he spins a credible story of our Will at the height of his literary and dramatic powers, set in the day to day cut and thrust of London, "a world of aspiration and contact-mongering, a world of amorous and commercial rendezvous". A literary detective story, a biography and a history of a slice of London life in a tumultuous time. "

" Interesting research and documentation with lots of speculation. "

" Whoa, some ish right here...smh. "

" I probably didn't give this a chance, but it is a non-fiction work about a court case where Shakespeare is one of the witnesses. The only problem? I just wasn't interesting enough. Sorry! "

" Good holiday reading. "

" Ok, but nothing new or enlightening. "

" Maybe part of the problem is that I tried this as an audiobook. It was as interesting as listening to paint dry. Perhaps it would have been best if I'd had a hard copy I could skim through and just stop to read the parts that interested me. "

" Subtle and thought-provoking, and very, very entertaining. As good as 1599 by James Shapiro for understanding Shakespeare's context, and maybe even better as a (implied) commentary on his work. "

" I really enjoyed the semi-fictional aspect of this book. The story of Shakespeare's time in Silver Street was beautifully written - I could actually imagine his trip down the Thames to the theatre. "

" Like spending an evening with a chatty Elizbethan-history geek. I would adore spending an evening with a chatty Elizabethan-history geek, so I thoroughly enjoyed the book. Mileage will vary. "

" I remember reading this and being impressed with the information and research. "

" Subtle and thought-provoking, and very, very entertaining. As good as 1599 by James Shapiro for understanding Shakespeare's context, and maybe even better as a (implied) commentary on his work. "

" A remarkable book describing in great erudite detail Shakespeare's milieu in London. This is as close as anybody will ever get to the person himself. "