William Shakespeare: A Biography [Hardcover]

A. L. Rowse (Author)

Product Details

• Hardcover: 484 pages
• Publisher: Barnes & Noble Books; First Edition edition (1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566198046
• ISBN-13: 978-1566198042
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 2.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,384,388 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A poet for the ages, February 4, 2001

By 

"[e-mail]" (Pennsylvania) - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Shakespeare, a Biography. (Hardcover)

I just finished reading this book, and I have learned so much about Shakespeare that I did not know before. I've come away with a deeper understanding of the man who was so gifted that there has never been anyone his equal among poets & playwrites, yet I long to know more about him. The author has a deep appreciation of his subject and the reader is caught up in this enthusiasm. This is a book that was hard to put down and made we want to re-read Shakespeare's plays, enlightened now with a deeper understanding of the poet. The material in the book cast new light on the plays by giving me a perspective of historical events & cultural background of Shakespeare's times that are reflected in his writings. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in Shakespeare.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, July 24, 2008

By 

Charles Bane Jr. "Charles Bane Jr." (Jupiter,Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: William Shakespeare: A Biography (Paperback)

This is easily the best biography of Shakespeare ever published.The Cardinal paperback contains the same photo section in its' center as the hardback edition.

Rowse portrays a man whose life was acted in conservative counterpoint to his work.Shakespeare kept careful accounts.He purchased property,on mortgages that were strictly repaid.He took the byzantine steps required to acquire a coat-of-arms for his family name,securing it an air of respectability.Certainly Shakespeare frequented the Mermaid Tavern,where he found friends like Ben Johnson and much good cheer. it was an easy,convivial place;but a man with his eye strained for the main chance would have also noted the Mermaid's success.Sure enough,its' owner's name became attached to Shakeseare's on a title.

I don't want to over-emphasize these facts, that I find interesting.They are only a dimension of the discoveries that await the reader of this work; nothing should distract he/she from an awareness that Rowse's scholarship of the Bard's canon is sensitive as a tuning fork.When he catches Shakespeare's voice as an individual in a turn of phrase,the reader is thrilled.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, November 7, 2005

By 

Sophie - See all my reviews

This review is from: William Shakespeare: A Biography (Hardcover)

I came to this biography after reading another recent and completely lame one (derivative and slanted). What a difference! I love history and biography, have read Shakespeare's plays but never seen one (!). Rowse's books have whetted my appetite to read additional biographies, histories of the era, and re-read the plays. It's hard to put down: very interesting, informative, original and easy to read. Highly recommended.