The Spy of Venice: A William Shakespeare novel

Wow what a read! It was like reading Dumas, very similar writing and storytelling style (the English translations anyway). It’s fun to speculate what William was up to in those missing years.

Benet Brandreth has done for Shakespeare what his father (Gyles Brandreth) did for Oscar Wilde: brought the wit and genius to life. The romp through the Bard's future plots and poetics is as good a source theory as any scholar has proposed. It might have happened just that way . . .

For me, an historical novel is only credible if the invented story is woven around actual historical facts and people of the era; “A Spy in Venice” has both in abundance, with Shakespeare in the pivotal role. Added to these assets, this story is imaginative, very well-written, absorbing and exciting. Throughout I found myself guessing the next event, though often incorrectly which made the story all the more compelling as nothing was given away too early in the narration. Mr Brandreth has given his whole book a real Shakespearean feel: it is divided into five acts, within each are chapters, or perhaps I should say scenes, with quotes from the works of The Bard as headings. Adding to the atmosphere are the Note to Reader and Historical Notes, giving reminders of the Tudor era, together with details of Venetian history which is less familiar to me and very helpful in the context of this story.Whether William Shakespeare ever visited Venice, let alone became involved in conspiracies and life threatening situations is open to speculation, but this intricate and often fast-paced tale gives food for thought regarding his life in his early 20s. It’s certainly more exciting than thinking of him as a rural schoolmaster! It would also provide an explanation for Shakespeare’s Italian-based plays, especially those set in Venice.And now with “An Assassin in Verona” queued up on my Kindle, I am looking forward to Part 2 of Shakespeare’s adventures and wondering whether he will be meeting two gentleman.

Dies war eine sehr interessante Geschichte, die versucht, die sogenannten "lost years" von Shakespeare mit einer plausiblen Story zu füllen, also die Zeit, bevor Shakespeare als Autor in London bekannt wurde. Brandreth bedient sich dabei einer Sprache, die sehr an die Zeit angelehnt, aber noch für moderne Leser verständlich ist.Die Story: Shakespeare muss nach einer unüberlegten Liebesaffäre seinen Heimatort überstürzt verlassen. In London trifft er einige Schauspieler wieder, die bereits in Stratford aufgetreten waren und schlisst sich ihnen für eine Reise nach Venedig an. Die Truppe ist dabei Teil der Entourage des neuen Botschafters von England. Als der Tross überfallen und fast alle getötet werden, übernehmen Shakespeare und ein Freund die Rolle des Botschafters und seines Sekretärs und werden dabei in diverse Intrigen und eine Spionagegeschichte verwickelt.Da Brandreth sich sehr gut mit der Zeit und den Gegebenheiten auskennt, kommt die Handlung insgesamt sehr authentisch rüber. Nachdem ich mich an die etwas altertümliche Sprache gewöhnt hatte, hatte ich viel Spaß beim Lesen und war gefesselt. Ich freue mich bereits auf die Fortsetzung.

È un libro che ha fatto molto parlare di sé sicuramente anche perché fornisce una spiegazione sicuramente plausibile sugli anni di cui non si hanno notizie nella vita di Shakespeare. È scritto bene, scorrevole anche se con un linguaggio forbito ( io l'ho letto in inglese). Penso che non sia un testo facilmente traducibile. Un libro per palati fini! Molto belle le descrizioni dei luoghi che danno l'idea di essere immersi in un medioevo veramente credibile ed incredibile.