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New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, action-packed standalone novel that tells the story of the first production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream—as related by William Shakespeare’s estranged younger brother Lord, what fools these mortals be . . . 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. But he is a penniless actor, making ends meet through a combination of a beautiful face, petty theft and a silver tongue. As William’s star rises, Richard’s onetime gratitude is souring and he is sorely tempted to abandon family loyalty. So when a priceless manuscript goes missing, suspicion falls upon Richard, forcing him onto a perilous path through a bawdy and frequently brutal London. Entangled in a high-stakes game of duplicity and betrayal which threatens not only his career and potential fortune, but also the lives of his fellow players, Richard has to call on all he has now learned from the brightest stages and the darkest alleyways of the city. To avoid the gallows, he must play the part of a lifetime . . . . Showcasing the superb storytelling skill that has won Bernard Cornwell international renown, Fools and Mortals is a richly portrayed tour de force that brings to life a vivid world of intricate stagecraft, fierce competition, and consuming ambition.
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It has been years since I’ve read any Shakespeare. 8, I think. And that’s mostly because it’s not my style. So when Fools and Mortals turned up this month for my book club, I decided to just grit my teeth and bear it. A book about William and his brother, Richard, performing the plays I could barely stand to read in high school? Oh boy.
But I was entranced. The descriptions of the plays are magical. I felt like I was one of the members of the audience and a player peeking around the curtain, holding my breath to see what would happen next and if the scene could be pulled off.
I will admit that the book starts pretty slowly. I spent 80% of my time on the first half of the book, but devoured the second half in just two days. Once it begins to untangle, it goes quickly, and is an absolute joyride.
Richard is an excellent protagonist. He’s riddled with flaws, but still impossible not to root for. Scorned by his brother, dirt poor, and madly in love with a woman who is to be married off. He’s an underdog through and through, but also goes on an incredible journey of growth that’s satisfying and sweet.
I think this book gave me a better appreciation for William Shakespeare in the context of the time period. Who knows, now that I’m older I may give his plays another try.
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