I enjoyed reading this fascinating book which describes the
times and life of William Shakespeare. London was a bustling,
busy town during Tudor times and Shakespeare found his place
and popularity as a
well known playwright. His success was
not
always enthusiastically acclaimed as one writer referred to
him
as shake-scene and was obviously at a loss to understand the
reason that people were flocking to see his plays.
Other playwrights and well known writers of the time are
also
included in this book.
It certainly does give an understanding
of the development of theatre and plays in earlier times
which in a
way was the beginnings of the mass audience crowd at a
popular
theatre.
Descriptions of the theatres are given, the professional and
business
approach to theatres and the painstaking building of the
initial theatres
and the losses often incurred. Often
people became jealous or for various
other reasons people wanted the theatres shut down and would
complain
to the London authorities about them. It may even have been because of
the narrow streets and people may have become encumbered
walking down
the narrow alleys when horses and coaches were waiting
outside the theatres.
There were also the puritans who wanted the theatres shut
down and often in times
of plague the theatres were also shut down. During one of these times of a plague
Shakespeare wrote some of his wonderful poetry.
The players and actors were very committed and passionate
towards their cause. Often
they needed patronage and at times their situation did seem
grim. This book tells the
story of the very early beginnings of theatre and plays and
how the players initially
travelled to country homes to give entertainments and would
receive food and board.
I loved reading this book as it is so full of interesting
detail and fascinating anecdotes
about the life of Shakespeare and his associates. It is a wonderful book and well recommended.
