Book Review Genre 5
TWU assignment
LS 5603 – 20
The Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare
Bibliographic Data:
Stanley, Diane and Peter Vennema. 1992. The Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare. Ill. By Diane Stanley. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688091091
Plot Summary:
With some help from the historical records, the authors piece together, and tell the story of the life of William Shakespeare.
Analysis:
The Bard of Avon expertly begins with explaining how William Shakespeare’s father was the high bailiff of Stratford-Upon-Avon, and how he held the job of screening entertainers for the village’s events. One troupe came into town when William was five, and the authors ponder whether this could have been the first performance that Shakespeare saw.
The biography goes on to discuss Shakespeare’s education, and the possibilities of what he did for a living during the years between his schooling and marriage. It briefly tells how many children he had with Anne, his wife, and then his move to London.
Within these narratives, the working of the theatre, its playwrights, actors, and locations are detailed. This adds interest to the biography. For example:
“These new theaters were circular wooden buildings with an open courtyard in the
middle…..People could stand in the courtyard for a penny. They were called groundlings, and they
were known to drink too much beer and be quite noisy and rude if they didn't like the
play… Anyone willing to pay a bit more could sit in one of the three
galleries, where they had a roof to protect them from the sun or a sudden
shower.”
The book also tells about how the theater companies were sponsored monetarily by nobles, and that the companies took the name of the sponsor. For example, one group was “Lord Chamberlain’s Men.” The inclusion of details like these makes this book a truly excellent piece of work.
In addition, the work of Shakespeare is addressed. The following passage gives insight into the works.
“Most of his plots were not original. He found them in storybooks and in
the pages of history. He breathed life into the main characters, added new
ones, and changed the plot as his imagination prompted him.”
At the end of this book is a postscript that among other things, points out some common phrases that people used today that Shakespeare created. For example, the words “lonely”, “hint”, and “excellent” originally belonged to Shakespeare.
The illustration is amazing; it is beautifully painted in watercolor, and has a somewhat cartoon like appearance. The medieval atmosphere is captured with drawings of the village and its happenings. Stanley gives special attention to the details, which really bring the paintings to life. For example, a little dog is portrayed with teeth, and looks like it is growling. A separate illustration shows a play, and a vendor is selling oranges to the crowd. There is a painting of the actors getting dressed before a play, in which some are perfecting their wardrobes, others practicing lines, one man applying makeup, and a musician practicing on his dulcimer.
The artwork also shows the difference between village life and the standard of living within Queen Elizabeth’s court; this art also shows things like the difference between the commoner’s floors, which were wood, and the castle floors, made of stone. Furthermore, the royal court is always around the Queen in the illustrations, which is very true to life.
In conclusion, The Bard of Avon: The Story of William Shakespeare, is an easy to read, thought provoking, and very fascinating biography. The new facts, small details, and careful attention to the flow of the work makes this a fast paced, humanistic view of Shakespeare, as well as the people and daily life in the 1500s.
Review Excerpts:
School Library Journal, 11/01/1992
"Using the few facts known about their subject, Stanley and Vennema manage a full-bodied portrait of a life and time without resorting to fictionalizing or sloppy speculation."--Sally Margolis, Deerfield Public Library, IL
Kirkus Reviews, 07/15/1992
“The authors of several handsomely illustrated historical biographies (Good Queen Bess, 1989) take on an unusually demanding subject with intelligence, scrupulous regard for the historical record, and a wise eye to the interests of their audience.” Copyright 2003, VNU Business Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved
The above reviews are from Book Index with Reviews. 2007 EBSCO Publishing, Powered by The Title Source TM (Accessed through http://online.twu.edu/webapps/portal/frameset.jsp?tab_id=_142_1 on October 21, 2007).
Connections:
Some books with similar themes: SHAKESPEARE by Peter Chrisp, Dorling Kindersley, and Steve Teague; SHAKESPEARE’S LONDON: A GUIDE TO ELIZABETHAN LONDON by Julie Ferris; and GOOD QUEEN BESS by Diane Stanley.
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