Shakespeare’s Ghost

The year is 1610, and William Shakespeare is the most popular playwright in England.

Edmund Lambert is a 17-year-old on the cusp of change. As an actor in the King’s Men theatre group, he is now beginning to play male parts instead of the female parts in plays (that’s right, in England women were only allowed to perform on stage from the 1660s!). He is coming towards the end of his apprenticeship to the theatre company and does not know where his life is soon to lead him. Until he starts receiving visits from an ethereal woman in green, who nobody else can see. Who else could he turn to, but Shakespeare himself?

For all historical fiction fanatics this read is fun and exciting and it is a brilliant page-turner for readers wanting to learn a little more about life in Shakespeare’s England. Possibly, Mary Hoffman sometimes sacrificed character development and plot intricacies for a more educational approach. In this way, this is the perfect read for anyone fascinated by the early modern period, with an exciting supernatural twist. However, there were times when some seemingly important details were left unexplained and unexplored as a result.

The setting and time felt thoroughly researched and authentic. For this, I applaud the writer. As a Shakespeare fanatic myself, I enjoyed the many references to his plays and personal life. I do wonder if a certain level of knowledge is expected of the reader, but regardless the fantastical element lends to a thrilling read for young teens.

Sinéad Creedon