Shakespeare: A Life

Park Honan’s Shakespeare biography is filled with wonderful details as long as he is not speaking about the bard himself. Shakespeare’s family background and what happened after his death are extensively presented. As far as Shakespeare’s life is concerned, Honan often fills the large gaps with discussions about Shakespeare’s works, which while worthwhile isn’t actually the purpose of a proper biography. The main victim of this approach is Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare’s wife hardly appears in the narrative at all. Was it really a marriage à distance? Another aspect I want to learn more about is the risk of Shakespeare’s work not finally appearing in print. Was there really a chance of them not being preserved for show more posteriority? Overall, a good introduction with a big hole in the middle that is papered over by the discussion of Shakespeare’s works. The man behind them remains an enigma. show less

I love biographies. I did not like this one much. At times written as tedious and difficult as some of the subjects's plays in original text.

It is interesting how little is really known about Shakespeare in his life. The author spends much more time on the plays then the life in my view.

If you want a good solid up-to-date biography of Shakespeare that avoids the excesses of Ackroyd, Shapiro, Greenblatt et al, try Honan's...

One of the better if-all-things-were equal lives of the immortal poet.