In the heart of elizabethan england, richard shakespeare dreams of a glittering. As always in bernard cornwells novels, an air of authenticity permeated every page, and the creation of a midsummer nights dream as seen through the eyes of richard shakespeare, a brother, gave depth and meaning to this most frivolous of shakespeares works. Fools and mortals is a celebration of shakespeare and the elizabethan theater, and is full of invention and guile. There are no great battle scenes, either in a dark age shield wall or a 19th century battle line.
Richard shakespeare dreams of a glittering career in one of the london playhouses, a world dominated by his older brother, william. As williams star rises, richards onetime gratitude is. William shakespeares obscure reallife brother, richard, an actor in williams company, is a decade younger, quite handsome, and yet resentful, angry, and petulant. Cornwell, who is best known for his historical novels. Given his penchant for historical fiction and his freakish productivity this is his 54th novel it was only a matter of time until bestselling writer.
Mar 20, 2018 its a bit of one of the many famous lines from shakespeares a midsummer nights dream, lord, what fools these mortals be. The protagonist is a younger brother of william shakespeare. After all, cornwell has always had a knack for writing novels that translate well to the screen. Fools and mortals ebook by bernard cornwell 9780062250919. New york times bestselling author bernard cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, actionpacked standalone novel that tells the story of the first production of a midsummers night dreamas related by william shakespeares estranged younger brother. If you love historical fiction, shakespeare, cornwells work or all of the above, fools and mortals is a mustread.
In his latest book, fools and mortals, he brings us into the bawdy, robust and dangerous world of london during the elizabethan era. In this bawdy, brutally competitive world, young actor richard shakespeare struggles to make his mark in a theater company dominated by his estranged older brother, william. Terry zobeck is a substanceabuse researcher with the federal government. Fools and mortals depicted a moment where the course of entertainment was changed. Fools and mortals southern california digital library. Based on real people and events, this debut novel follows lale sokolov, a young slovakian jew. The battles were not bloody, but no less hard fought. A dramatic new departure for international bestselling author bernard cornwell, fools and mortals takes us into the heart of the elizabethan era, long one of his favourite periods of british. Fools and mortals is a definite change of pace novel for mr. It was edited by gail kern paster and esther ferington. In terms of book to television adaptations, cornells biggest claim to fame is with his most famous series. There is also no great overarching theme, ie the creation of a unified england in the 9th and 10th centuries or the defeat of napoleon in the early 19th century.
New york times bestselling author bernard cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, actionpacked standalone novel that tells the story of the first production of a midsummer nights dreamas related by william shakespeares estranged younger brother lord, what fools these mortals be. At first looking at bernard cornwells new novel fools and mortals you might dissapointedly think, oh, the creator of sharpe has finally. Fools and mortals finds shakespeares brother taking. Sword fights, drunken brawls, and backstabbing enemies. Fools and mortals finds shakespeares brother taking center. Fools and mortals written by bestselling and very popular author bernard cornwell, was a fabulous jaunt into life in the late 1500s and really made an impact on me. A gripping story of rivalry and ambition, loyalty and love set in the. It needs to be, because so little is known of shakespeares personal life. Bernard cornwell is one of our most acclaimed and successful historical novelists, the creator of sharpe, the saxon tales series and nathaniel starbuck to name but a few. New york times bestselling author bernard cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, actionpacked standalone novel that tells the story of the.
Right away, theres a sense of the shakespearean balance of wit and drama. With all the vivid history that is his trademark, bernard cornwell transports the reader. New york times bestselling author bernard cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, actionpacked standalone novel that tells. His latest book, fools and mortals, was published in the us by harper, in 2018. A look at bernard cornwells new book fools and mortals. The story had a brilliant period setting that i pictured very clearly due to the authors precise and accurate attention to detail. Jan 11, 2018 i suspect cornwells fans, who seek thrilling historical action and adventure, will be disappointed with fools and mortals, while new readers drawn by the shakespeare connection will be disappointed by the shallowness of the characterizations and plot. In the heart of elizabethan england, richard shakespeare dreams of a glittering career in one of the london playhouses, a world dominated by his older brother, william. New york times bestselling author bernard cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, actionpacked standalone novel that tells the story of the first production of a midsummer nights dream as related by william shakespeares estranged younger brother. Jan 09, 2018 with fools and mortals bernard cornwell joins the speculative fun, presenting a portrait of shakespeare that seems impressively original. A dramatic new departure for international bestselling author bernard cornwell, fools and mortals takes us into the heart of the elizabethan era, long one of his favourite periods of british history. True, its an historical novel, but it is not concerned with military adventure. The first thing readers will notice in fools and mortals, as they will in cornwells the last kingdom, is the voice.
But he is a penniless actor, making ends meet through a combination of a. Richard shakespeare, brother of william, longs to play male parts in the theatre. Cornwell comes down, hard, against the theory that someone other than shakespeare wrote his plays. But he is a penniless actor, making ends meet through a combination of a beautiful face, petty theft and a silver tongue. Fools and mortals is a story about william shakespeares acting troupe at the theatre in london, told through the perspective of his younger brother richard. Its a riveting novel driven by a distinctive voice thats sure to hook you. Well, getting back to your book, the plot of your book, fools and mortals, it turns on another theater trying to get their hands on shakespeares scripts. Dec 09, 2017 it shouldnt come as a surprise if fools and mortals is adapted for the big screen. Fools and mortals finds shakespeares brother taking center stage. No one does historical fiction better than bernard cornwell. Fools and mortals is a 2017 historical novel by bernard cornwell set in elizabethan london. Richard tells his own story, and as crafted by cornwells skilled hands, he tells it beautifully.
There is also no great overarching theme, ie the creation of a unified england in the 9th and 10th centuries or the. Fools and mortals my next book will be titled fools and mortals. Fill us in, though, on the background of just how precious or valuable scripts were in 16 th century london, and this burgeoning theater. Sep 21, 2020 fools and mortals reminded me of the sadly shortlived tv series will that was on tnt a few years ago. Fools and mortals by bernard cornwell, paperback barnes. Jan 16, 2018 given his penchant for historical fiction and his freakish productivity this is his 54th novel it was only a matter of time until bestselling writer bernard cornwell got around to shakespeare. Fools and mortals follows the young richard shakespeare, an actor struggling to make his way in a company dominated by his estranged older brother, william. Fools and mortals follows the young richard shakespeare, an actor struggling to make his way in a company dominated by his estranged older. Fools and mortals book the indianapolis public library.
As the growth of theatre blooms, their rivalry and that of the playhouses, playwrights and actors vying for acclaim and glory propels a highstakes story of conflict and betrayal. Fools and mortals ebook san antonio public library. Oct 20, 2017 but dont be fooled, as we mortals often are, this is a story of layer and depth. In fools and mortals we are transported to elizabethan london, where we meet richard shakespeare, a penniless actor who dreams of a glittering career in the london playhouses dominated. Fools and mortals bernard cornwell 97800075048 netgalley. New york times bestselling author bernard cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, actionpacked standalone novel that tells the story of. This is a complete change of scene, time and character from sharpe. In the late sixteenth century as the english theater begins to flourish outside of london, a growing number of playhouses, playwrights, and actors vie for glory and success. Interesting, intriguing, and informative, fools and mortals is highly recommended. Sep 15, 2017 fools and mortals follows the young richard shakespeare, an actor struggling to make his way in a company dominated by his estranged older brother, william.
In this bawdy, brutally competitive world, young actor richard shakespeare struggles to make his mark in a theater company dominated by his estranged older brother. Fools and mortals book contra costa county library. Bernard cornwells 55th book is something of a departure. This is a story about the writing of, the stealing of, and the first performance of one of shakespeares most famous plays.
Apr 19, 2018 fools and mortals by bernard cornwell, 9780007504145, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. In a radical departure bernard cornwells newest novel sees the author don a pair of hose. Fools and mortals book snoisle libraries bibliocommons. This article was originally published in the january 2018 issue of bookpage. Will was a little overthetop at times, but the parts that focused on the players and the productions were terrific, and having seen the show, i was better able to visualize some of what was going on in fools and mortals.
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