Shakespeare: The Biography by Peter Ackroyd (PDF)

Description

A TIMES LITERARY SUPPLEMENT BEST BOOK OF THE YEARDrawing on an exceptional combination of skills as literary biographer, novelist, and chronicler of London history, Peter Ackroyd surely re-creates the world that shaped Shakespeare–and brings the playwright himself into unusually vivid focus. With characteristic narrative panache, Ackroyd immerses us in sixteenth-century Stratford and the rural landscape–the industry, the animals, even the flowers–that would appear in Shakespeare’s plays. He takes us through Shakespeare’s London neighborhood and the fertile, competitive theater world where he worked as actor and writer. He shows us Shakespeare as a businessman, and as a constant reviser of his writing. In joining these intimate details with profound intuitions about the playwright and his work, Ackroyd has produced an altogether engaging masterpiece.

User’s Reviews

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐Extremely interesting book on the life and times of Shakespeare. Text is quite dense at times, but extremely well written. Best suited for readers who have some understanding of history, language and literature. Makes you appreciate the genius of Shakespeare and the dynamic Renaissance period when he lived, acted and wrote.

⭐Kudos to Mr. Ackroyd for making Shakespeare come alive. This well researched book brings us to Stratford to London and back to Stratford with the world’s greatest bard.

⭐Long book, 92 chapters. The author brings out many interesting aspects of British life of the late 1500s and early 1600s, and gives insights into many personalities and family members in Shakespeare’s life. His portraits of Stratford and London sounded authentic to me. The author has made a serious effort at tracking Shakespeare’s development as a poet and has posited about his personality and associations that I found interesting. However, Ackroyd also speculates on events that may or may have not occurred, by necessity, owing to the lack of documentation that has survived. The cases he builds for reaching certain conclusions about Shakespeare are believable and interesting. The book is written in flourished, professorial language, peppered with obscure words and references that may be known to British readers but not American. Have your dictionary nearby when reading this book. This is the only biography of The Bard I’ve read, so can’t compare to others, but I stayed with the book to the end. It was worth it because I’ve always thought Shakespeare creations were extraordinary, which merits him a fascinating figure. Clearly Ackroyd believes Shakespeare’s talent was genius level. I agree.

⭐I had to buy this book from Amazon twice. Both were advertised as in “very good condition”. The first book I ordered and got was literally rat-chewed on the top right corner. It was disgusting. So I tried again. I ordered this book a second time, again stated as being in “very good condition”. The 2nd time was the charm. It is in pristene condition, well wrapped, and obviously not read. … Regarding the book itself, it is excellent and well written and has lots of engaging details about the Shakesperian period I haven’t seen elsewhere. … Were it not for the rat-chewed first ordered book I got, I would give this a five star rating. The book itself is that good. I love Peter Ackroyd and have all his books.

⭐William Shakespeare is regarded by many as the greatest writer ever in the English language. Nearly four centuries after his death, his plays are still studied in high schools and colleges and are performed on stages all over the world. Peter Ackroyd chronicles Shakespeare’s life in this biography.Shakespeare was born in Stratford in 1564, and the author looks back at the dramatist’s early life and schooling. The reader also learns of some of the living conditions and hardships of life in Elizabethan England as well as some of the customs of the time, including those that affected religion.Shakespeare moved to London for his acting and writing careers, but Stratford still had a hold on him, and his lives in both places are recalled. Ackroyd also provides many insights into Shakespeare’s personality and character, including likes, dislikes, financial dealings, marriage and family relations, and view of religion.The author tracks Shakespeare’s career as an actor, poet, and playwright. He discusses many of the key plays and how they shaped and were shaped by late-sixteenth and early-seventeenth century England, and also examines some of the characters he created and literary devices he used. Ackroyd describes life in a theatrical company, the theater buildings, and the experiences of putting on a play and attending a play some four centuries ago.For its insights into one of the greatest dramatists ever and his life and times, it is likely that even those who have not read Shakespeare’s work in many years would find Ackroyd’s biography rewarding.

⭐Ackroyd’s writing style is fresh and informative. The chapters simply fly by.

⭐A friend got SHAKESPEARE: THE BIOGRAPHY for me from the public library.It was such a joy, so inspiring, intriguing, such a vivid picture of Shakespeare as a man, as an author, an actor, a poet and a citizen both of London and of Stratford-upon-Avon that I knew I would have to have this book by my reading chair–in easy reach. I don’t know if you’ve ever read a book that you knew you had to own for your own, not just to read once and enjoy, but to challenge you to think–even to change your mind about something you thought you knew already. I knew I loved Shakespeare and his London. Now I know why. This one will stay by my chair.

⭐This book was a well written and cogent explanation of Shakespeare’s life. It does a very credible job of making the case for his writing all of his plays, which I always thought he did anyway. The world loves a mystery, and also conspiracy theories. But I think this well researched book lays all of the ‘alternate Shakespearean universe’ theories to rest. It is well footnoted and interesting to read … it held my attention to the bitter end. Worth the purchase, by all means.

⭐And here were we thinking that we didn’t know that much about William Shakespeare. Peter Ackroyd’s superb biography gives chapter and verse of the Bard’s life and times. Thankfully, there is speculation aplenty about what we don’t know for sure – where he lived, what he did when he hadn’t quill in hand. Also, thankfully, there is little space wasted on who it was, other than Shakespeare, that authored the plays and the poems. It’s a fascinating read, despite Ackroyd being honest in admitting that Shakespeare was an ordinary bloke only made extraordinary by his genius with words. In that, he smashes a shibboleth that he himself holds up to ridicule. “The apparent ordinariness of extraordinary men and women is one of the last great taboos of biographical writing,” Ackroyd writes.

⭐CAUTION – THERE ARE MANY EDITIONS OF ACKROYD’S “SHAKESPEARE”Amazon’s software allows only one review per product; “Shakeapeare” by Peter Ackroyd (to the software) is “one book” but it comes in many shapes (rectangular and circular) and sizes. Reviews for individual editons will appear on all books/CDs with this title. (Not a criticism on great software, just an observation. Look at the product details carefully)”Shakespeare – the Biography” by Peter Ackroyd, 550 pages, Vintage Press 2006, paperback format, cheap paperTwo more suited companions would be hard to find (except Ackroyd and Dickens); Ackroyd is London’s biographer (literally) and writing on a playwright who made his life and fortune in London and, in doing so, made London more famous, is to be expected. Having had so many biographies written on him, to entitle his ” … the Biography”, Peter Ackroyd may be making too great a claim for himself; however, with its wealth of information, detail and apt quotations and observations, I am prepared to consider the claim.Stepping into the world of Shakespeare with its dirth of material on the subject, claim and counter-claim about his very existence and apparently excellent scholarship supporting each claim is brave; Ackroyd carries it off with typical panache.PS I also recommend the partnership of Ackroyd and Simon Callow. Great CDs – well-researched material and that great voice.

⭐Utterly gripping – Ackroyd is a terrific writer. Brilliantly researched – very fair and well balanced and hugely entertaining. No idea how Ackroyd has manged all that with such an illusive subject. Have already bought a copy for a theatre mad friend.

⭐dont expect the last sentences of his paragraphs to be any good because they are not but over all its a great book

⭐This is a fabulous book. Anything you need to know about Shakespeare is contained within its 488 pages. Peter Ackroyd’s research is based on that of many others, but his personal touch makes it an outstanding biography. The Bibliography is 13 pages long !

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