The Late Mr. Shakespeare

How does one describe this book?Permit me, madam, to attempt.First of all, the main reason (in my opinion) to read "The Late Mr. Shakespeare" is, simply, the narrative (discounting the chapter containing Shakespeare's will, which was not nearly as fluid and I more or less skipped over). Robert Nye's prose is uncouth, unique, and undoubtedly true - I savored every word, and I yearn for more.Another redeeming factor of this book was the disjointedness of it all - one could lose track of the book for months, pick it up again, and begin another chapter afresh - and it would hardly make any of the difference. The chapters are almost entirely unrelated (other than with the general aging of shakespeare and progression of his life) - and all were both intriguing and delicious. I enjoyed the discussion of Shakespeare's works and the possible innuendos to other works, friends, and people - in addition to some possible spots of his inspiration and speculations on his greatest pieces. It doesn't matter to me how much is true and how much is mishmash - the fact of the matter is that it was interesting. But then, I've always had an obsession with editorials and the like, so I suppose this book was straight up my alley.And let us not forget the entirely estranged bits of the book that tie the entire image of Shakespeare together - the insults he shouted while engaging in tennis, for example.In summary, this is likely not meant to be a sit-down-and-read sort of book, but a stop-and-think-for-a-few-moments-and-move-on read. And it's both a unique and likable sort of method.Finally, the ending was satisfying. I have experienced such a delicacy in ages.

This was a different though thoroughly delightful twist to Mr. Nye's earlier "Shakespeare" offering. As a mildly edifying, fictional romp through WS's life and times, this book is a welcome alternative to more academic and more boring works on the subject. Caution for the "X" rating in several chapters. I found them humorous and stimulating, though others may find them much too much more than simply ribald!

Pickleherring takes one on a romp through Shakespeare's life, giving the modern reader a real feel for the life of the Bard and his times. Nye's use of the language is delightful, his timing perfect (except for what I saw as a few slow moments in the last third of tbe book), and his send-up of many of the controversies surrounding Shakespeare and his work is wonderful. I loved the use of scholarly footnotes smack in the middle of two of the most dramatic pages of the book. I laughed, I cried, and I fell in love with the narrator. A little Shakespeare knowledge is advised; it will send most of us eagerly to the reference books and to WS's works.

I can't believe I'm the first reader to submit a review of this book. How is it possible that this novel hasn't been discovered by a legion of admirers -- especially in the wake of "Shakespeare in Love"? This is one of the most enjoyable reads I've had in a long while. Anyone with a passing interest in Shakespeare will find much to appreciate in this novel. And the more familiar you are with the Bard, the more you will glean from it. A fascinating mix of fact, speculation, and outright fabrication, "The Late Mr. Shakespeare" is a riotously bawdy romp which occasionally spins on a dime to become touching, contemplative, and wise. Wonderfully written.