- Paperback: 272 pages
- Publisher: The Friday Project; Reprint edition (30 April 2009)
- Language English
- ISBN-10: 0007306199
- ISBN-13: 978-0007306190
- Product Dimensions: 19.3 x 12.7 x 1.8 cm
- Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 926,454 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
| ||||||||||||||||||
Did you know you can trade in your old books for an Amazon.co.uk Gift Card to spend on the things you want? Plus, get an extra £5 Gift Certificate when you trade in books worth £10 or more before June 30, 2012. Visit the Books Trade-In Store for more details. |
Product details |
Product Description
Review
Praise for ‘Gents’
'A smart, raw, telling modern parable!'
John Vasconcellos, California State Senator
'Gents is one of those rare little gems, like Ben Rice's Pobby & Dingan, that punches so far above its weight that it will effortlessly knock you out.'
John Self, The Asylum website
'A startling, wonderful book.'
Times Educational Supplement
Product Description
Shakespeare in Love for the sonnets: a fictional tale of how Shakespeare wrote his most famous poems.
No one knows for sure precisely when and where Shakespeare wrote his sonnets or, more intriguingly, who he wrote them for. In this wonderfully entertaining novel acclaimed author Warwick Collins imagines the circumstances that inspired 30 of the Bard's most popular sonnets.
The young Will Shakespeare is living under the patronage of Henry Wriothesley, Earl of Southampton. The controversial earl is under pressure from his family and those close to the royal court to settle down but he is far too busy drinking, carousing and cavorting with his motley band of acquaintances to pay attention. Not then, the obvious setting for poetic genius but within the politics (both State and sexual) of this lofty household Will finds lots to inspire his pen, and a few attractive distractions too.
Collins has crafted a clever, witty and enjoyable novel from fragments of history. He interweaves 30 sonnets into the text in seamless fashion. The Sonnets wears its scholarship lightly and its love of Shakespeare and poetry proudly.
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organise and find favourite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
When Warwick Collins' fictionalised Shakespeare speaks of a `most rich and lewd conceit,' he perfectly describes the author's own creation.
Set between 1592-4, Collins explores Shakespeare's `mental landscape' at a time when his world has been turned upside down. London is ravaged by Plague and most of its theatres closed down, with political intent to keep them that way. And the actual landscape, the beautiful countryside in which the story is set, is also a menacing place where each cry of a bird and twitch of a horse may warn of the presence of enemies.
The nervous, sensitive poet writes to flatter his sensual and sexually ambivalent patron, wooing the Earl of Southampton with words rather than flesh. But this is a time when men play all female roles in the theatre and the relationship between the two men provides a piquant irony. Collins goes on to create a `comedy of errors' where both share the same lover - the mysterious dark lady of the later sonnets.
But, despite humorous scenes of love and confusion, this is essentially a tragedy where all are trapped by society's games and conventions, struggling for protection in a world where the chance of survival, whether from disease or political dabbling, is as fragile as an apple thrown up into the air in a drunken game. Southampton, who Shakespeare sees as a mirror image of himself - "both my plight and aspiration" -is obliged to produce an heir to ensure his family's power and wealth; the dark lady to remain in a loveless marriage and, though Shakespeare will escape unscathed, others in his profession will not. Christopher Marlow - his rival for Southampton's patronage and affections, and a lurking presence throughout the novel - will come to a terrible end. Other playwrights will starve in poverty.
Collins has cleverly captured the tone of danger, spying and sensually charged isolation. His poetic language weaves a chilling story, exposing the characters' real fears and desires, even showing the method of the Sonnets' composition, with Shakespeare counting out beats on his fingers or fretting over the scansion of lines. When the author acts the `magpie', stealing whatever words he will to construct `imitation' poems that extra conceit only adds to the pleasure - and if Collins had not been so honest in his afterword, less learned readers might well have been inclined to assume them composed by the bard himself. A cunning achievement indeed.
Set between 1592-4, Collins explores Shakespeare's `mental landscape' at a time when his world has been turned upside down. London is ravaged by Plague and most of its theatres closed down, with political intent to keep them that way. And the actual landscape, the beautiful countryside in which the story is set, is also a menacing place where each cry of a bird and twitch of a horse may warn of the presence of enemies.
The nervous, sensitive poet writes to flatter his sensual and sexually ambivalent patron, wooing the Earl of Southampton with words rather than flesh. But this is a time when men play all female roles in the theatre and the relationship between the two men provides a piquant irony. Collins goes on to create a `comedy of errors' where both share the same lover - the mysterious dark lady of the later sonnets.
But, despite humorous scenes of love and confusion, this is essentially a tragedy where all are trapped by society's games and conventions, struggling for protection in a world where the chance of survival, whether from disease or political dabbling, is as fragile as an apple thrown up into the air in a drunken game. Southampton, who Shakespeare sees as a mirror image of himself - "both my plight and aspiration" -is obliged to produce an heir to ensure his family's power and wealth; the dark lady to remain in a loveless marriage and, though Shakespeare will escape unscathed, others in his profession will not. Christopher Marlow - his rival for Southampton's patronage and affections, and a lurking presence throughout the novel - will come to a terrible end. Other playwrights will starve in poverty.
Collins has cleverly captured the tone of danger, spying and sensually charged isolation. His poetic language weaves a chilling story, exposing the characters' real fears and desires, even showing the method of the Sonnets' composition, with Shakespeare counting out beats on his fingers or fretting over the scansion of lines. When the author acts the `magpie', stealing whatever words he will to construct `imitation' poems that extra conceit only adds to the pleasure - and if Collins had not been so honest in his afterword, less learned readers might well have been inclined to assume them composed by the bard himself. A cunning achievement indeed.
Format:Hardcover
Unless you are a fan of Shakespeare, or studying the sonnets, this work is likely to pass you by, and that would be a shame. Set in Hampshire during a period when the London theatres were closed due to the plague, it is written (largely) in the first person and seeks to place the writing of the sonnets in context by exploring the mindset of Shakespeare. From the first line, Warwick Collins captures the tone and feel, not only of the narrator, but of the times and the environment. The use of language is beautiful and poetic without verging on the self-indulgent; it is at times erotic and clever. All together, a scholarly work.
And that, I am afraid, is its main problem. For my money The Sonnets is more of an intellectual exercise than an engrossing read. On too many occasions Will sighed `and so I retired to write about what happened that day' (I am paraphrasing), which in truth, was not much. The affairs of the heart, court intrigues and political conspiracies were mere back-story to the sonnets themselves - admittedly, this is the author's intention - and could have been explored in depth, making the novel longer and more fulfilling as a result. A must for English Literature students, and a fine achievement, but as `A Novel' (as it proclaims on the dust cover) it may fail to find a wider audience.
And that, I am afraid, is its main problem. For my money The Sonnets is more of an intellectual exercise than an engrossing read. On too many occasions Will sighed `and so I retired to write about what happened that day' (I am paraphrasing), which in truth, was not much. The affairs of the heart, court intrigues and political conspiracies were mere back-story to the sonnets themselves - admittedly, this is the author's intention - and could have been explored in depth, making the novel longer and more fulfilling as a result. A must for English Literature students, and a fine achievement, but as `A Novel' (as it proclaims on the dust cover) it may fail to find a wider audience.
Format:Paperback
This is not normally the sort of book I would pick for myself, tending to be one who leans more towards chick-lit than anything else. However, having studied Shakespeare's sonnets through English and drama classes, I was actually quite interested to see what this book would be like and I really was pleasantly surprised. The inclusion of the sonnets with relation to the text was brilliant and it was really interesting to see a possible context in which they might have been written. The author used quite poetic language which really helped capture the mood of Shakespeare's world and it was easy to imagine that it was actually Shakespeare's voice. It was also interesting to see quotes from some of the plays slipped in, although at times it did seem a little unnecessary and jarring, almost like an awkward pun randomly placed in.
I found that it was an extremely quick read and really quite engrossing, I'd recommend it to anybody, but especially people who may have studied or are studying Shakespeare at school. Rather than just having to learn the sonnets, it's a great way to explore and see a different side to them.
I found that it was an extremely quick read and really quite engrossing, I'd recommend it to anybody, but especially people who may have studied or are studying Shakespeare at school. Rather than just having to learn the sonnets, it's a great way to explore and see a different side to them.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A possible context for the sonnets...
Ever since my time during GCSE and A-Level, I have loved the sonnets by Shakespeare. This novel by Collins tries to provide some potential background to 32 of his sonnets. Read more
Published on 1 July 2009 by Brida
Sonnet cycle
Warwick Collins takes 32 of Shakespeare's sonnets and with the opportunistic closure of the theatres owing to plague, provides WS with the time, place and reason to develop this... Read more
Published on 1 Mar 2009 by Mrs Curzon Tussaud
A fine novel that brings the sonnets to life
This is an ambitious novel. The author has taken Shakespeare's sonnets and created a novel around them, selecting those that fit this narrative - 32 in all, reproduced in full... Read more
Published on 25 Nov 2008 by Annabel Gaskell
The Landscape of his Mind
It is 1592 and the London theatres are closed because of plague. For the next two years, William is forced to cool his heels at the country pile of his patron, the young Henry... Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2008 by S. Zigmond
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Listmania!
Look for similar items by category
- Books > Fiction > Historical
- Books > Fiction > Literary Fiction
- Books > Poetry, Drama & Criticism > Poetry > Genres > Myths
- Books > Reference > Writing > Poetry
Look for similar items by subject
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
- I am the Author, and I want to comment on my book.
- I am the Publisher, and I want to comment on this book.
|
