The Lodger Shakespeare - by Charles Nicholl (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In 1612, Shakespeare gave evidence in a court case at Westminster-and it is the only occasion on which his actual spoken words were recorded. In The Lodger Shakespeare, Charles Nicholl applies a powerful biographical magnifying glass to this fascinating but little-known episode in the Bard's life. Drawing on evidence from a wide variety of sources, Nicholl creates a compellingly detailed account of the circumstances in which Shakespeare lived and worked amid the bustle of early seventeenth-century London. This elegant, often unexpected exploration presents a new and original look at Shakespeare as he was writing such masterpieces as Othello, Measure for Measure, and King Lear.

Review Quotes

"Through imaginative use of primary source material . . . lively readings of the plays and a nuanced portrait of their author, [Nicholl] capably captures 'the simmering randiness of the age.'"
-The New Yorker

"As close as we'll ever come to rubbing shoulders with the Bard."
-The Christian Science Monitor

About the Author

Charles Nicholl is the author of nine books of history, biography, and travel, including the highly regarded The Reckoning. He has presented two documentaries for British television and has lectured in Britain, Italy, and the United States.