Taking seriously the commonplace that a man is known by the company he keeps--and particularly by the company he keeps over his lifetime--one can learn more about just about anyone by learning more about his friends. By applying this notion to Shakespeare, this book offers insight into the life of the most famous playwright in history, and one of the most elusive figures in literature. The book consists of sketches of Shakespeare's contact and relationships with the people known to have been close friends or acquaintances, revealing aspects of the poet's life by emphasizing ways in which...

While many things about Shakespeare's life are unknown, certainly, like everyone else, he had a family. This book gathers into a single source as much information as possible concerning Shakespeare's immediate family, from his grandfathers on the maternal and paternal sides to his granddaughter, the last member of his direct family line. But readers may ask, to what extent did the relationships in the plays reflect the actual familial structures of Shakespeare's day? To what extent did Shakespeare experience personally the familial dynamics about which he wrote so eloquently? And to what...

"With this book, students, readers, and actors will above all enhance their understanding of Shakespeare's verbal richness by getting a grasp of the forms he used."
Dr. Ann Christensen, University of Houston

"Kate Pogue begins her book by boldly saying in the foreword, 'This book will change the way you read Shakespeare, ' and so it will."
Dr. Michael...