Loving Will Shakespeare

Reviewed by Me for TeensReadToo.com

Having been fortunate enough to have read Ms. Meyer's previous release, MARIE, DANCING, I was anxious to read her take on the life and times of William Shakespeare. Although I must admit that I enjoyed MARIE, DANCING, based on Marie van Goethem and the role she played in becoming the inspiration for Edgar Degas's sculpture, Little Dancer Aged Fourteen, just a tad bit more than LOVING WILL SHAKESPEARE, I did thoroughly enjoy this book.

LOVING WILL SHAKESPEARE is the story of William Shakespeare and his wife, Agnes "Anne" Hathaway. Anne, however, is the main character in this story, and although I wasn't disappointed, per se, I can admit that I was hoping for more of an intimate look into Mr. Shakespeare show more himself.

Having lost her mother to illness, Anne finds herself with a new stepmother, Joan, who is eerily reminiscent at times to the evil stepmother portrayed in the classic story of Cinderella. After the last attempt to fix her up, yet again, with a cruel and intolerant suitor, Anne realizes that she's been looking for love in all the wrong places. But how can she be in love with young Will Shakespeare, though, when she's known him since he was a toddler?

In love with him she is, although it takes her awhile to act on her feelings. Thankfully for Anne, Will returns her love. Not so fortunately, however, is the fact that Will has the desire to write sonnets and poems, to act on the stage, to travel the world and see the sights. All Anne has ever wanted is to be married, to raise children with a man she loves, in a home they can call their own. When they finally do marry, Anne realizes quite quickly that the permanent, loving homestead she so desired will undoubtedly be one without the constant presence of her husband.

LOVING WILL SHAKESPEARE is intriguing, to say the least. It's interesting to see how Anne and Will fall in love through friendship and the course of time. While beautiful, it's also haunting, to know that this couple stayed married for more than twenty years, during which time Will was hardly ever at home with his wife.

This is a great read for lovers of history, or for those interested specifically in the life of William Shakespeare. I can honestly say that I feel like I know Will and Anne Shakespeare--or, at least, know of a young man and a slightly older woman who were, once upon a time, madly in love. show less

I liked this! I thought the historical stuff was done very well -- the author has obviously done a great deal of research. I'm no authority on Shakespeare or his times, but she certainly put in a lot of little details of language and culture that sounded convincing. I also appreciated the way that Carolyn Meyer made Anne spirited and intelligent while still allowing her to be flawed and making her a believable product of her time -- while she's smart, she doesn't display an improbable degree of learning or interest in literature, and though she chafes at the restraints her society puts on her, she knows better than to think that she can just take off and be an Independent Woman with any success. And she makes some pretty big mistakes, show more or near mistakes, along the way -- but not the kind that make you smack your forehead in exasperation that anyone could be that stupid (or that the author could insult the reader's intelligence to that degree in the effort to contrive an exciting plot).And since I am rather fond of romances which involve an age gap, I thought the Will - Anne relationship worked well. But at the same time bittersweet, because we know how little time Will *really* spent with his wife and family as compared to his acting and playwriting life.I would recommend it. It's quite well done. show less

Audio review: Carolyn Meyer does great historical fiction and her imagining of the life of William Shakespeare's future wife makes a fully satisfying read with a touch of romance.

Little is known about William
Shakespeare's wife, Anne Hathaway. The author imagines Anne's life as a young girl growing into a woman. Anne meets Will when she is 7 and he is newly born; later, after her mother's death, Anne must cope with her unlikable stepmother and new step-siblings. Will grows to work in his father's glovery while maintaining an interest in writing poetry and acting, and flirting with Anne. When Will is about 17, grown and handsome, Anne begins to develop feelings for him. She discovers later that she is pregnant and they marry quickly. But show more it is not the married life Anne imagined for herself. Will pursues his interests in the theater and throughout their marriage is gone for months at a time, returning only for "fortnight" visits. show less

Carolyn Meyer is a wonderful YA writer. She is engaging and sets the tone for those who want to learn about history. Her books challenge young adults, and older adults as well, to learn more about a specific topic.

This is a tale of young Will Shakespeare and a woman that he is attracted to. Little is known about Shakespeare's life, or marriage. In this book the couple are portrayed as childhood friends, and as they age, it is Will who is most attracted to Anne Hathaway.

Very much wanting to be a successful writer and playwright, we find Will at the age of 18 before his career began. Will's marriage is one wherein Anne becomes pregnant and he must marry her in a hurry. She is seven or eight years older than he. It is thought that perhaps show more she trapped him. She is 26 and very unhappy living with a step mother and her children, none of whom want her with them. Anne's father died, and then it became unbearable to live with those who are nasty and blatantly want her out.

Those who know little of this time period, soon learn of country life and the allure of the wonderful admiration of their Queen, Elizabeth I.

This is a quick read, written by one of the best YA authors for historical people and events. show less

William Shakespeare may have been one of the greatest writers, but he was married to his work. His wife and children were negelected ----little is known of Anne Hathaway. Carolyn Meyer does a good job of "supposing" what Hathaway's life was like---and her life wasn't easy.

This book dives into the viewpoint of Anne Hathaway - a girl who is unsuccessful with love and after such atrocities, finds herself in love with the younger (by 7 years) William Shakespeare, who she grew up with. The story was quite moving and kept you interested until the end.

Book Review

David C.Hall
EDCI 4120/5120
Meyer, C. (2006). Loving will shakespeare. Orlando: Harcourt, Inc.
Grade Levels: 7-9
Category: Historical fiction
Read-Alouds: pp. 3-16 (Chapter One: The Black Death); 44-54 (Chapter Four: The Queen’s Visit); 147-163 (Chapter Eleven: The Glover); 223-237 (Chapter Sixteen: Regret)
Summary: Meyer tells the story of William Shakespeare’s childhood and early years through the eyes of Agnes (Anne) Hathaway, the neighbor girl seven years his senior who eventually became his wife. The story begins in the spring of 1564, with the birth of Will Shakespeare and young Anne’s attendance at his christening. It then follows the two children as they grow to adulthood, with Anne the victim of an abusive stepmother show more and step-sister who want her out of the house. Anne is betrothed to another man, but she refuses him after he attacks her in a drunken rage, and she eventually marries Will Shakespeare, who is by this time eighteen and Anne, twenty-six.
Themes: As a work of historical fiction, Loving Will Shakespeare explores hamlet life in rural England in the late 16th Century in fascinating detail. The novel offers a plausible (but still fictional) biography of the very early life of William Shakespeare growing up as a neighbor of the Hathaway family. Young Will Shakespeare is presented as a precocious young boy, one of imagination and a desire to learn. Anne Hathaway is depicted as a strong and strong-willed young woman, one of energy and enterprise, but a young woman caught in the restraints of a society which frowns upon young women who do not marry, and suspects that any woman who lives on her own voluntarily will likely be suspected of witchcraft.
Discussion Questions:
In Chapter Five “The Bawdy Court”, the author describes a society where young women suspected of even the slightest impropriety are subjected to public censure and humiliation. Looking at life in the 16th Century with our more modern point of view, how do you think you would have survived and complied with these restrictions?
“Handfasting”, “banns of marriage” and dowries for young women were all part of the tradition of marriage in the 16th Century, and many of these traditions are still in use in many parts of the world today. What are your thoughts about these traditions? What purpose do you think they served? Do they still have a place in modern society?

The concept of a “wicked stepmother” is a tried-and-true character and plot device in fables, folklore and novels. Did you find the character of Joan Hathaway believable? If so, why? If not, why not?
Reader Response: I found Meyer’s 265 page novel on the (possible) early life of Anne Hathaway and Will Shakespeare to be an engaging and valuable addition to the canon of literature on the life of William Shakespeare. Perhaps the novel’s most valuable service is to “de-mythologize” Shakespeare by portraying him as a child and finally as a young man going out to make his own way in the world. While the book is written with the female young adult in mind as a primary audience, an equal number of the characters in the novel are male, and Loving Will Shakespeare could serve as an ideal entre to the reading of Romeo and Juliet or MacBeth. show less