Shakespeare - Bill Bryson
This is part of a 'famous people by famous writers' series. It's a fantastic read for anyone interested in knowing more about Shakespeare but not interested in wading through all the academic tedious analysis of every word, comma and full stop. In Bill Bryson's usual style it is a straightforward, here are the facts look at the mystery that surrounds Shakespeare. I like Bryson's take on why we are so fascinated with Shakespeare in the first place. The Elizabethan period was a high point for the world of dramatic arts. Most of the plays that were performed at that time have been lost or are known only by name. Of those that we still have written copies of 35% are by Shakespeare, yet we can confirm very few details about his actual life. I love this period of history (although I wouldn't have wanted to live then) and this book gives a broad background view of Shakespeare's time to explain some of the assumptions that have been made about him. It also has a chapter dedicated to the many questions that have arisen over the years about his 'true' identity - was he Marlowe, Bacon, or some other famous person? Very interesting reading.

Bryson really does have a knack of making information accessible. I really enjoyed this book, which has reminded me that I must get a hold of his A Short History of Nearly Everything. Shakespeare just fascinates with what his unknown about him. My favourite bit was the crazy woman who founded the theory that Shakespeare was in fact Francis Bacon. A theory that she seems to have constructed out of thin air* and of course had nothing at all to do with the fact that her name was Delia Bacon. *Perhaps literally. According to Bryson, she didn't interview anyone, but sat in the places that Bacon had been, absorbing the atmosphere.

Most of the Shakespearean theorists seem to have been a bit loopy and/or criminal. My favourite was the guy who got access to all of the original manuscripts etc and then cut out the bits that really interested him and took them. :shock: