Customer Reviews

Shakespeare's Scribe

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

From the beginning, this sequel to the masterful THE SHAKESPEARE STEALER bodes ill (literally), with grim references to the devastsating outbreak of the plague that swept London in the early 1600s. Widge is back, with a cast of other great characters, and together they perform a startlingly real and profound tale of finding ones self and ones true family when just finding money enough for your daily bread is difficult enough. As the Lord Chamberlain's Men tour Northern England, the hardships of the gypsy life soon became apparent. As the players were turned back from town after town, I became as frustrated and bitter as Widge. When Redshaw appeared, I began to hope for Widge that he wouldn't have to end up choosing between his blood and his adopted family. And as Sal Pavy (known with the two names side by side throughout the book) stole part after part from his peers, I was angry. Whether you enjoy a good adventure or a puzzling mystery, you will enjoy this book, which well lives up to its predecessor.

When my twelve year old son recommended The Shakespeare Stealer to me, I put it aside for a while, but, gosh, my son doesn't recommend books very often to his English teacher mom, so I read it. The colorful characters and swift-moving plot kept me involved, so I was ready when my son handed me the sequel. I found it even better! Swordfights, the plague, and a mysterious, suspicious character enliven the plot. And Will Shakespeare himself has more of a role. What a fun and I must say educational (the dreaded E word) read for this age group! I'm ordering the next in the series today!

This book is an excellent read! IT is even better than the shakespeare stealer. After the plague becomes a threat to Lord Chamberlin's men they have to travel and preform plays in order to keep everything running. Sander decides to stay behind to take care of the orphan children and Widge goes. Widge however has a new threat. This new actor, Sal Pavy, who is as rude as anything is stealing all Widge's roles. Of course Widge is a good actor but is the new Sal Pavy even better? And to make matters worse Mr. Shakespeare breakes his arms and has to have Widge scribe for him. If Widge already doesn't have 2 much 2 do-- he also become a small physician for the Chamberlin's men since he was an apprentice to a physician, Dr.Bright, before. And then widge meets someone who claims to be his father. Is he really who he says he is? If so will Widge leave the company to be with him? This is a must read.

This book, a sequel to Blackwood's Shakespeare's Scribe, is a worthy follow-up, but does not surpass the fun and excitement of the first volume. Slightly sluggish, somewhat bloated, "Scribe" is surprisingly slower than "Stealer", despite the opportunities for high drama given the subject matter. The main character, Widge, discovers the man who may -- or may not -- be his father. As he did in his first volume, Blackwood offers Widge a number of moral dilemmas which make for very interesting reading for the target audience, young teens. As a father who read this book out loud to his two sons, I appreciate the historical accuracy of Elizabethan England that Blackwood includes, incorporating issues of poverty, starvation, and the Plague, all of which were prevalent during this time. With a little tighter editing and about 30 fewer pages, this could have been a stronger overall effort.

Shakespeare's Scribe is the second book in what has become The Shakespeare Stealer series. It is, in my opinion, every bit as good as the first book and in some ways even better. We get to see Widge, the orphan turned thief turned actor, continue to face new challenges he must deal with when the dreaded plague comes to London. When all the theaters are closed as a health measure, the Chamberlain's Men decide to take their company north to play in the smaller more remote towns. In the course of this action, Widge is confronted by the challenge of becoming Master Shakespeare's scribe when the playwright's arm is broken. At the same time, he must deal with the unexpected appearance not only of a clue to his mother's identity but also of a man who may, or may not, be his father. And if that were not enough, Widge must deal with a new boy actor - Sal Pavy - who seems determined to take over all of Widge's acting roles. And he must do all of this without the companionship of his closest friend Sander, who stays behind in London to help Mr. Pope take care of the orphans.

Blackwood is at his best when the action is within the realm of the theater, in particular when we see Shakespeare through Widge's eyes as the playwright struggles with creating a new play. Blackwood does an excellent job of showing how much work it is and how even the great masters must at times struggle with a single line, and how moments of inspiration can come from the most unlikely circumstances. The author also does a good job of showing what going on tour meant in Elizabethan times when a company had to haul their theatrical gear over dirt roads that could quickly turn to mud, to play in towns where fear of the plague could turn people against them, and to contend with both rival theatrical groups and con-men who cheat towns by promising performances but then taking the money and disappearing. In addition, Blackwood works in a lot of interesting historical details about the plague, what people thought caused it, how they tried (and largely failed) to protect themselves against it, and the sheer terror and despair it left in its wake. It's also interesting to see Widge, quite unwillingly, taking on the role of being the company's resident medical authority simply because he once worked for a "doctor". That the doctor was a theologian and not a physician is apparently secondary and Widge is forced time and again to do his best with what little he knows.

One thing I particularly liked is how Blackwood gives his characters shading, so that even when they're arrogant and scheming, as Widge's rival Sal Pavy is, or untrustworthy, as Widge's alleged father seems to be, they still have qualities that make them real people and if not completely sympathetic, at least understandable that there are reasons they are the way they are. And the way in which Widge finally deals with his rival just by itself makes the book worth the read.

All in all, this is a very worthy sequel and does a great job of allowing Widge to grow as a character even as the reader's understanding grows of the theatrical life in Elizabethan England. Highly recommended.

After enjoying "The Shakespeare Stealer" I wondered whether I would like the second book or be disappointed. I am happy to say that it did not let me down! I think the strength of these books is the expert weaving of an interesting story (which also gives a fascinating feel for Elizabethan England) with the personal struggles of the main character. Underneath the delimna of the first book is Widge's introduction to the concept of family; the new experiences of loyalty and belonging complicate Widge's choices--and their consequences. In the midst of the hard times of this book, Widge faces insecurities about his identity and abilities. His desparation to keep the family he's found prompts his fear of not being valuable to that family... and to others...
These books are quality historical fiction, and I look forward to reading "Shakespeare's Spy" with confidence. The only further note I'll make is a vote for the hardcover editions--I love the cover artwork, and I can't figure out why they didn't keep it for the paperbacks.

This clever novel was one that I couldn't put down! It was
exciting and fun to read. I read it in about 4 days, and
I totally enjoyed it. This book covers tough topics, while
being an enjoyable read. I would reccomend it to both boys
and girls ages 11 and up because of some material in it that
may be tough to understand. Read and Enjoy!

I read "The Shakespeare Stealer" earlier this month, upon the recommendation of my mother, who teaches seventh grade. When I finished it, I asked her about the sequels, and she told me she had them in her classroom. Fortunately, she remembered to bring them home for me in spite of all the year-end chaos. I wasn't ready to say goodbye to Widge and his friends.

"Shakespeare's Scribe" is that rarest of literary treats: a sequel every bit as good as the original. When an outbreak of the dreaded bubonic plague hits London, city officials put a stop to all public gatherings, and that means closing the Globe Theatre. Widge and most of the other members of the Lord Chamberlain's men pack up a couple of wagons and head out into the countryside, hoping to perform in smaller towns and villages the plague has not yet touched. Life on the road is full of adventure, but marked by inhospitable conditions and unfriendly encounters. When the constables of one town brawl with the players and throw them out of town, William Shakespeare suffers a broken right arm. Suddenly Widge is called upon for his unique skills: first, in healing, having lived for several years with a doctor, and next, in shorthand, as Shakespeare continues work on his newest play during his convalescence by dictating the words to Widge. When the troupe passes through the town where Widge spent his earliest years, he goes in search of answers from his past - and what he finds just might cost him his place among the players.

As with "The Shakespeare Stealer," attentive readers should have little difficulty uncovering the novel's secrets, but guessing the end in advance won't diminish the pleasure of watching the story unfold. The pleasure of reading this book lies not in the twists and turns of the plot, but in the setting and characters: the world of Elizabethan England drawn so vividly you'll come away from the book feeling you were really there, watching Widge grow into a self-possessed and capable young man. Shakespeare is more of a presence in this novel than he was in its predecessor; he and Widge develop an amicable rapport during the dictation sessions, and rarely has the great playwright been depicted as so down-to-earth and human. However, despite the presence of Shakespeare and a number of other well-documented historical personages, Widge remains the central figure and focus of the reader's attention. All the wit and cleverness that made "The Shakespeare Stealer" such a delight are present in the sequel as well, and the novel is nearly anachronism-free.

Once again, Gary Blackwood has written a pitch-perfect novel that should appeal to young and old, bookworms and reluctant readers alike.

Fascinating!

The Shakespeare's Scribe, by Gary Blackwood, is a very detailed sequel

to the great Shakespeare's Spy novel. In this adventure, Widge is forced to move

around like a gypsy with Chamberlain's men to make money, for a deadly plague

forces them to leave London. While moving, Widge meets a mysterious man that

may (or may not) know the secrets behind Widge's past. With sword fights,

robberies, and even death, poor Widge is confused. Should he trust this

mysterious man, or follow the company he loves? This is definitely one of my

most favorite books that I have read. I recommend this book for kids ages 11+,

for some of the material in this book might be complicated, especially in the

beginning. This is definitely a must-read.

I actually purchased and read the third book of this series first. After having read that book, I knew I had to read the others. The stories took me back in time; I was there! The fictional characters blended in with the historical characters well...the whole series is very interesting, satisfying, and enjoyable.