Shakespeare

An original and provocative study of the evolution of Shakespeare''s image building on the success of Duncan-Jones'' acclaimed biography Shakespeare: An Ungentle Life. Taking a broadly chronological approach she investigates Shakespeare''s changing reputation as a man an actor and a poet both from his own viewpoint and from that of his contemporaries. Many different categories of material are explored including printed books manuscripts literary and non-literary sources. Rather than a biography the book is an exploration with biographical elements. The change in public opinion in Shakespeare''s time is quite startling: Henry Chettle attacked him as an ‘upstart Crow'' in 1592 an attack from which Shakespeare sought to defend himself; and yet by the time of the First Folio in 1623 he had become the ‘Sweet Swan of Avon!'' and was fast becoming the national treasure he remains today. This engaging and fascinating study brings the politics and fashions of Shakespeare''s literary and theatrical world vividly to life.