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Category Archives: Sources
Thomas Wyatt, Hilary Mantel, and the art of poetry
Hilary Mantel’s novel Bring Up the Bodies documents the life of Thomas Cromwell, Henry VIII’s chief minister. History has judged Cromwell harshly for ruthlessly masterminding the downfall of Anne Boleyn, but without backing away from this, she makes him a … Continue reading
Posted in Shakespeare's World, Sources
Tagged Bring up the Bodies, Hilary Mantel, sonnet, Thomas Cromwell, Thomas Wyatt
Comments Off on Thomas Wyatt, Hilary Mantel, and the art of poetry
Romeo and Juliet’s balcony scene
Over the past few weeks a lively discussion has been going on at the Shakespeare noticeboard SHAKSPER under the title “Balcony”. The so-called balcony scene in Romeo and Juliet is probably Shakespeare’s most famous single scene, and no wonder as … Continue reading
Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems, Shakespeare on Stage, Sources
Tagged balcony, Brooke, Juliet Club, Lois Leveen, Peter Holland, Romeo and Juliet, Romeus and Juliet, SHAKSPER, Verona
4 Comments
Fact or fiction: Shakespeare at Charlecote
There are many legends about Shakespeare’s life, but none is more compelling than that linking him with Charlecote Park, near Stratford-upon-Avon. Local historian Dr Robert Bearman has just sent me details of a new publication that relates to it: Anyone … Continue reading
Theatre, democracy and Shakespeare
Dr Michael Scott’s BBC4 series Ancient Greece: the Greatest Show on Earth, looking at theatre in the classical world, has reached the Roman period. This is only available to download until 27 February, though you will then have a few weeks … Continue reading
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare's World, Sources
Tagged Andy Kesson, Greece, Jonathan Neelands, Michael Scott, Rome, theatre
Comments Off on Theatre, democracy and Shakespeare
The end of chivalry: John Talbot, the terror of the French
According to the messenger who gives the news in the first scene of Henry VI Part 1, Lord Talbot was captured by the French during a battle that took place on 10 August. The tenth of August last this dreadful … Continue reading
Posted in Shakespeare on Stage, Shakespeare's World, Sources
Tagged Edward Hall, Henry VI Part 1, John Talbot
3 Comments
Shakespeare and The White Queen: using creative license
The current television series The White Queen has been criticised for its historical inaccuracies, its glossy costumes and out-of-period settings. I haven’t read the books by Philippa Gregory, so can’t tell how much of this relates to them and how … Continue reading
Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare's World, Sources
Tagged BBC, Henry VI Part 3, Lesley Nickell, Philippa Gregory, Richard III, The White Queen
2 Comments
Richard III: an update on the King in the car park
Last week’s revelations about the discovery of Richard III’s skeleton in a car park in Leicester has sparked off a flurry of articles about the real and fictitious monarch. Here are links to just a few of them. First of all, … Continue reading
Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems, Sources
Tagged archaeology, burial, excavation, Ian McKellen, Michael Dobson, Richard III, Simon Russell Beale, Stephen Greenblatt, University of Leicester, York Minster
Comments Off on Richard III: an update on the King in the car park
Richard III is found!
This morning Richard Buckley, head archaeologist at Leicester University, has stated that “beyond reasonable doubt”, they have reached the “sound academic conclusion” that they have found “Richard III, the last Plantagenet King of England”. Richard’s death at the Battle of … Continue reading
Posted in Legacy, Sources
Tagged archaeology, car park, Richard Buckley, Richard III, The King in the Car Park, University of Leicester
2 Comments
Shakespeare and Ovid’s Metamorphoses
In 1598 the writer Francis Meres wrote that “the witty soul of Ovid lives in mellifluous and honey-tongued Shakespeare”. And well he might: Shakespeare had already written his own version of one of Ovid’s tales, as well as borrowing stories … Continue reading
Posted in Shakespeare's World, Sources
Tagged A Midsummer Night's Dream, Francis Meres, Metamorphoses, Ovid, The Winter's Tale
4 Comments
Hilary Mantel and Shakespeare: two tales of Henry VIII
I’ve only just got round to reading Hilary Mantel’s 2009 novel Wolf Hall, the first of a trilogy (the third part still being written) about the life of Thomas Cromwell. Both Wolf Hall and its sequel Bring Up the Bodies … Continue reading
Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems, Shakespeare's World, Sources
Tagged Bring up the Bodies, Henry VIII, Hilary Mantel, Man Booker prize, Thomas Cromwell, Wolf Hall, Wolsey
2 Comments