Ship of Fools: Shakespeare novels

Thread: Shakespeare novels Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Prompted by the Bard's birthday celebrations this weekend, I wondered if anyone could recommend any novels that feature Shakespeare.

I have Susan Cooper's "King of Shadows" and Jan Marks' "Stratford Boys", but would be interested to hear about any others.

(Yes, that's the Susan Cooper who wrote the "Dark is Rising" series, and "King of Shadows" is a good read.)

Posted by Pigwidgeon (# 10192) on :

The Shakespeare Stealer Series is for children, but it's a fun, quick read for adults and gives a lot of historical background. (And the main character is named Pigwidgeon!)

Posted by Brenda Clough (# 18061) on :

It's not a book, but you could hardly fail withi the movie Shakespeare in Love.

Posted by Palimpsest (# 16772) on :

Nothing Like The Sun by Anthony Burgess.

[ 26. April 2015, 01:21: Message edited by: Palimpsest ]

Posted by Golden Key (# 1468) on :

You might try Karen Harper's Elizabeth I mystery series. I think I've read maybe 3 of them. I don't think he Bard is in the ones I read, but he may well be in the others.

If nothing else, you get a lot of Elizabethan background. E. herself is both queen and sleuth. Her real personal staff, courtiers, etc. are in the stories, plus folks like John Dee.

It did take me a little while to get used to the writing style. It's meant to give the feel of Elizabethan writing, I think. Initially, I found it a bit dry, but got accustomed to it.

The "Fyre Mirror" book is the one that sticks in my memory, partly due to John Dee's science and inventions.

Posted by SvitlanaV2 (# 16967) on :

Jude Morgan, 'The Secret Life of William Shakespeare'.

Unfortunately, I can't say I've read this, but I'm very impressed with the two other historical novels I've read by the same author.

I was lucky enough to attend a creative writing workshop led by Jude Morgan (real name: Tim Wilson) several years ago.

Posted by Lord Jestocost (# 12909) on :

Ruled Britannia, by Harry Turtledove. An alternate history in which the Armada won, Elizabeth I is under lock and key in the Tower, and W. Shakespeare is still hacking out a living as a writer in London and wishing he wasn't being co-opted into writing a play that will inflame resistance against the oppressors.

Posted by Adeodatus (# 4992) on :

No Bed for Bacon by Caryl Brahms and S.J.Simon. A piece of silliness that, in places, bears a more than passing resemblance to the movie Shakespeare in Love (or rather vice-versa, since the novel was written in 1941). There are lots of in-jokes for those who know the basics of Shakespeare lore - for instance, the novel opens with him practising different spellings of his name (apparently no two of Shakespeare's alleged signatures are the same).

Posted by Lyda*Rose (# 4544) on :

Okay, this doesn't have Shakespeare in it, but it is based on the play "The Tempest", and I've really enjoyed it: A Breath of Air by Rumer Godden. It is set on a South Pacific island with native workers instead of spirits and a downed airplane pilot as the love interest.

Posted by Twilight (# 2832) on :

Gosh, I loved Rumer Godden.

Another reimagining of one of his plays is A Thousand Acres, based on "King Lear." Pulitzer price winner by Jane Smiley.

Posted by Garasu (# 17152) on :

If we're going for books based on the plays, I've really enjoyed Alan Gratz's Horatio Wilkes mysteries and really wish he'd do the one based on Midsummer Night's Dream based in San Francisco that he presaged in Something wicked...

If you want novels featuring Shakespeare, a search of the Library of Congress catalog on the subject "Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Fiction" gives a selection...

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on :

A second for 'Ruled Brittania.' The author handles all the historical and theatrical minutiae extremely well, IMNSHP. And he has included an author's note, revealing the source of his poetry.

I've read it several times and have found no 'stoppers' to mar my enjoyment.

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Garasu:
If you want novels featuring Shakespeare, a search of the Library of Congress catalog on the subject "Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 -- Fiction" gives a selection...

Cheers. I can also google for novels featuring Shakespeare, but I was hoping that people might be able to recommend ones they've particularly enjoyed (assuming they've read some). I have a feeling that many years ago I read one set in that mysterious interim period of his life which isn't documented, but when it's thought he went to Italy. I'm curious about how different authors would see him as a fictional character.

"Shakespeare in Love" is one of my favourite films, by the way. [Big Grin]

Posted by David (# 3) on :

Shakespeare Identified by J. Thomas-Looney has a Shakespeare in it. It is not a novel but nevertheless fiction.

Posted by Tubbs (# 440) on :

I have fond memories of Antonia Forest's The Player's Boy (1970) and The Players and the Rebels (1971). They're about ancestors of the Marlows family in her school stories who lived in Shakespeare's time.

Tubbs

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

Strictly speaking, a play - but if you read it in book form you can read it as if it were a novel: 'Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead', by Tom Stoppard, is a clever twist on part of one of Shakespeare's own plays.

I first started reading plays in book form when living Mon to Fri in London and being disappointed that I wasn't always able to get cheap tickets for all the plays that I would have liked to see. All you need is a healthy dose of imagination and the books come alive!

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on :

Somewhat related (perhaps):

As a child I was given a novel titled (I think) 'Master Skylark.'

I don't recall a lot of it -- its language was perhaps a little advanced for me at that point, but it involved a boy with an outstanding voice who was kidnapped by a travelling player(?)

Does this ring any bells with any shipmate?

Perhaps if I read it now, I'd have a better appreciation.

(I know, I could google it, but shipmates' responses are much more enlightening (and fun!)

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Thanks, all for the interesting recommendations, especially Adeodatus'. I've sent off for "No Bed for Bacon" - sounds like fun [Big Grin]

"I'll check out some of the others shortly.

[ 02. May 2015, 08:20: Message edited by: Ariel ]

Posted by Firenze (# 619) on :

I'd second NBFB. And, if you haven't read them, the other Brahms and Simon titles - like A Bullet in the Ballet and Don't, Mr D'Israeli.

Posted by Panda (# 2951) on :

quote:
Originally posted by georgiaboy:
Somewhat related (perhaps):

As a child I was given a novel titled (I think) 'Master Skylark.'

I don't recall a lot of it -- its language was perhaps a little advanced for me at that point, but it involved a boy with an outstanding voice who was kidnapped by a travelling player(?)

Does this ring any bells with any shipmate?

Perhaps if I read it now, I'd have a better appreciation.

(I know, I could google it, but shipmates' responses are much more enlightening (and fun!)

It sounds a little like 'Cue for Treason' by Geoffrey Trease - a set text when I was in grade 8 or 9. Features Shakespeare, along with a boy and girl who start out, for varying reasons, travelling with a group of travelling players, putting on Shakespeare's (and others) plays, and then being pulled into a sinister plot to assassinate Good Queen Bess...

Posted by Moo (# 107) on :

quote:
Originally posted by georgiaboy:
As a child I was given a novel titled (I think) 'Master Skylark.'

I don't recall a lot of it -- its language was perhaps a little advanced for me at that point, but it involved a boy with an outstanding voice who was kidnapped by a travelling player(?)

My brother had a copy of Master Skylark. I never read it, so I don't know what it's about.

I just looked it up at abe books. Here it is.

Moo

Posted by georgiaboy (# 11294) on :

That's the one, Moo.

Thanks a lot.

Posted by Hiro's Leap (# 12470) on :

Shakespeare has an occasional (but key) role in Neil Gaiman's graphic novel series The Sandman. Gaiman wrote much of it based around A Midsummer Night's Dream and The Tempest.

Posted by basso (# 4228) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
Strictly speaking, a play - but if you read it in book form you can read it as if it were a novel: 'Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead', by Tom Stoppard, is a clever twist on part of one of Shakespeare's own plays.

And Harry Turtledove wrote a short story We Haven't Got There Yet -- an alternate history/time travel story in which Will gets the chance to watch a band of players put on R&G at the Globe. Very funny!

Posted by Trudy Scrumptious (# 5647) on :

Oh, the mention of books from childhood reminds me of the wonderful Mistress Malapert by Sally Watson, which I loved as a child. Rebellious girl from well-off family disguises herself as a boy to run away from cruel guardian and join troupe of travelling players. Moves from troupe to troupe till she ends up acting with Shakespeare's company, and playing Juliet opposite another young man with whom she inevitably falls in love. Shakespeare himself makes a few nice appearances. It's a great historical for kids (or adults who still enjoy kids' books).

Posted by Ariel (# 58) on :

Curious how many novels about Shakespeare seem to be children's ones. I'd have expected more to be for adults.

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