Customer Reviews

Shakespeare's Spy (Shakespeare Stealer)

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

 

 

I was drawn in by the first Shakespeare book by Gary - "Shakespeare Stealer" and was pleased to read more about Widge and his continuing adventures in this 3rd book - "Shakespeare's Spy." Gary Blackwood is an extraordinary writer and amazingly brings Widge and the other characters to life in this non stop, what's going to happen next, who did it, tale!! This particular book has many plots: who is stealing from Mr. Shakespeare? Will Widge write his own play? Will Widge get the girl? and more importantly, does he really want the girl?? and what about that fortune teller? Must read to find out!!

Shakespeare's Spy is the third (and apparently the last) book in Blackwood's Shakespeare Stealer series. I would like to think that there might be more books in the future, as I have enjoyed this series quite a bit, but the events in this book have a coming-of-age feel to them as we see Widge having to confront the challenges of love and death, not to mention having to find a way to aid an old friend and to find out who's been spying on Master Shakespeare's troupe at the same time.

As always, Blackwood does an excellent job of working in details about life in Shakespeare's London and about life in the world of Elizabethan theater. And as he did in Shakespeare's Scribe, Blackwood here goes into even more detail about what goes into the writing of a play as Widge tries his hand at writing a play of his own. Using this, Blackwood also cleverly shows the reader at the same time how it is possible that not all the plays we think of as being Shakespeare's were necessarily his work. One of the things I like about Blackwood's books is that you learn things about the actual historical period in the process of an enjoyable read. The actual history in this case adds to the drama as Widge and his fellow players must deal with the impending death of Queen Elizabeth, under whose reign the theater prospered. They must wait anxiously to see whether her successor, James, will be a patron of the theater or, if the Puritans have their way, will have it banned as a sinful indulgence, putting an end to all theatrical performances and to their way of life.

Another thing I particularly liked about Shakespeare's Spy is Blackwood's use of a fortune teller who early on foretells what fate has in store for Widge, his friend Sam and his rival Sal Pavy. And just as Shakespeare often did, Blackwood cleverly shows that just because you've been told your fortune does not mean that you have correctly interpreted it, let alone that you will understand until it finally happens.

All in all, this third book is yet another highly enjoyable and educational read. My only regret is that Widge's tale is seemingly done and there won't be any other books to follow. Highly recommended for readers of all ages.

This book was as good as the ones before it. The information laid out in the book was intriguing, especially the parts about the Papists and the queen's failing health. The author cleverly inserts Timon of Athens into the plot of the novel and a reappearance of a character in the first book occurs. I think overall it was well done!

It was a month ago that I read "The Shakespeare Stealer" and found myself absorbed in the world of Elizabethan theatre and the life of the plucky orphan Widge. I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next two books in the series. "Shakespeare's Spy" is the final chapter of Widge's adventures. In this novel, a series of thefts and the attention of anti-Catholic authorities bring it to the attention of the Lord Chamberlain's Men that there is a traitor in their midst. As the players speculate amongst themselves as to which of them it might be, Widge is preoccupied with a new project: writing a play, in the hopes that he can impress Shakespeare's beautiful daughter, Judith.

This wasn't my favorite book of the trilogy; it seemed a little more contrived than the others, a little less natural, a little more reliant on standard fiction "devices." However, this minor flaw hardly disqualifies the novel from a place with its predecessors among the ranks of excellent juvenile historical fiction. The same candor, wit, and tenderness that made the first two novels such a delight are intact in this sequel, and once again, Gary Blackwood offers just enough clues to enable the attentive reader to uncover most of the novel's secrets. His audacious treatment of real historical figures, depicting them as flesh-and-blood creatures as splendidly imagined as the wholly fictitious characters, rather than untouchable relics, is on display here more than ever. Blackwood feels thoroughly at home in Widge's world, and it shows. A fortune-teller who makes several brief appearances offers an offbeat sort of foreshadowing, as her predictions do all come true by the novel's end, but not in the way either the characters or the reader would ever have expected.

"Because of you," the fortune-teller informs Widge, "someone . . . will return to life." She might have said the very same thing of Gary Blackwood, who has succeeded yet again in drawing the reader back into a fascinating slice of history and imbuing it with a fresh vitality. Readers who enjoyed Widge's previous adventures should be eager indeed to get their hands on this final installment.

In this third adventure for young Widge, apprentice to William Shakespeare's London theatre company, we find the city in a depressing and uncertain time, waiting for the ailing queen to die, afraid that the new king may ban theatre performances altogether. Widge is also facing personal dilemmas as he tries to get passage money for his friend Julia to get home, and he makes a play for Shakespeare's daughter -- literally; Widge boasts to her that he is writing a play, and when she asks to see it, he decides he really must write one. WS gives him a play he's given up on, which is funny because many say it's one of Shakespeare's "least good", and I think it also allows kids to entertain the idea that history is not really written in stone, and that many stories fill our past, each one unique and interesting.

Our family has read the three Widge books. They've been terrific on many levels: we've learned about England of the time, London and Shakespeare's troupe in particular; we've read almost a thousand pages about an interesting character in intriguing situations; we've watched the character grow and mature, experience happy times, bad times, sad events and growth. The writing is easy on the ear and eye, the dialogue natural, and the fiction believable.

Wonderful series. Wish there were more.

In this third book of the series, the author is back to lively writing and entertaining storytelling. (The second volume was a slow starter.)

Times were hard for theater people in London in 1603, and the plague continued to endanger lives. Widge tries to solve a mystery of stolen costumes, meets Will Shakespeare's daughter, and with Shakespeare's help, also tries his hand at writing a play -- acquiring a new name in the process! Small references to events in the previous two books -- The Shakespeare Stealer and Shakespeare's Scribe -- are more easily understood if you've read them first.

As always, I enjoy learning about historical facts while I am reading fiction. Although I have read in history books about the fact that the English (Anglican) Church was the country's mandated church during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, I hadn't realized until I read this how hard life would have been for Catholics at that time. (I did know that the Jews were persecuted in the Middle Ages.)

Some people have expressed alarm that there is a "fortune teller" in this book. I don't think the author is trying to convince anyone that this was anything other than a phenomenon of the times. In the Author's Note at the end, the author explains this and other historical facts. Shakespeare really did have a daughter named Judith, who is in this book!

I have enjoyed the other two Shakespeare books by this author, but this one began to delve into the occult with fortune telling. Because of that I cannot recommned this for anyone who had convictions against such things. I am writing this to warn others who share the same conviction so they won't waster their money.