Melissa Quinn

Dream-like book with smoothly-written prose, consumed easily. Good evocation of a long gone world and an interesting focus on the family of Shakespeare, bringing out some of the parallels between their lives and the themes of the plays. A helpful introduction to those interested in Shakespeare but not for me. The character of Agnes (aka Anne) Shakespeare is too whimsical and fey and the way the world of the novel comes together with the few facts we know of Shakespeare is too contrived and weak.