William Shakespeare

May 1, 2014

Gr 6 Up-These titles include a biography and an overview of the Elizabethan and Jacobean theaters. A lot of information is packed into each slim volume. The authors make excellent use of primary-source material in order to make Shakespeare interesting and accessible to this age group. There are many sidebars, with captions such as "What's the Evidence?," "I Was There," "Myth" (famous stories about Shakespeare which probably aren't true), and "What Now?" (Shakespeare in modern times). There are also numerous colorful illustrations, often from primary sources, and photographs of modern productions of Shakespeare's plays. Each volume includes a time line, a list of all known theaters in Shakespeare's London, and extras such as a table comparing current prices and wages with those of Shakespeare's day. The books are at their strongest when they are relaying factual historical material, and the authors are careful to avoid unsupported speculation or generalizations. The few sections of literary analysis are not as strong, making these books best suited for students looking for information about Shakespeare and the times in which he lived.-Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ

Copyright 2014 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 1, 2014
Grades 7-10 Readers introduced to Shakespeare's works though print or other media may find themselves wanting to know more about the author whose words are familiar throughout the world. These volumes in the Shakespeare Alive series are not always well organized but are very readable and answer many common questions. William Shakespeare: A Man for All Times does more than simply introduce the author; it endeavors to separate fact from fiction. The book examines how historians work, while sidebars labeled What's the Evidence? ask questions such as, Did Shakespeare truly author the works attributed to him? A crisp design and plenty of photographs make for a welcoming format, and while a fair amount of the information is repeated throughout the series, each book feels fresh.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2014
Shuter's biography of Shakespeare does an unusually clear job of distinguishing facts from inferences and myths. His concise and specific picture of Shakespeare's world and theatrical accomplishments is built on a foundation of primary documents. Illustrations, maps, boxed insets, and lists help break up the text. This book is notable for its dedication to presenting nuanced information without sacrificing accuracy. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)