The Queen’s Player: The Lost Years of William Shakespeare Book 2
The Queen’s Player is the second in a trilogy, The Lost Years of William Shakespeare, set during the golden age of Elizabethan theatre when young Will Shakespeare was just getting his start. The novel opens in 1587 and follows directly from the young man’s return from Italy when, through the intervention of Sir Francis Walsingham, he lands a position in Her Majesty’s own company of actors, the Queen’s Men. Just exactly why the queen’s secretary has taken such a keen interest in an unknown glove-maker’s son, who has neither acting credits nor any theater experience whatsoever, arouses the curiosity of the troupe. However, young Will proves to have a fine hand, a knack for improvisation and a good memory which serves him well, all without disclosing that he had previously been pressed into service as Walsingham’s secret foreign courier.
It isn’t until the company goes on tour that Will first takes the stage in a bit part that seems likely to become his big break. But a suspicious death finds him drawn back into working as a part-time intelligencer for Walsingham, while a mysterious royal plot unfolds, and the Spanish Armada threatens invasion.
With lush period details and descriptions of backstage theatre life, Wildman builds a plausible timeline for Shakespeare’s initiation into playwriting, with the bard getting a little help from his friend, Kit Marlowe, along the way. Because Shakespeare’s life from 1585 to about 1592 is relatively undocumented, the author indulges in some speculative imagination by adding a touch of espionage. However, the great strength of this novel lies in the characterization of Shakespeare as he moves toward the career that will define his life. A wonderful read for enthusiasts of theatre, history, and Shakespeare. I can’t wait for the next in this beautifully written and fascinating series.
