Shakespeare's Scribe

Gary Blackwood (author)

Dutton Children's Books, USA: 2000; 265pp

ISBN: 0525464441

Note: extension vocabulary

Genres: literature, historical fiction

Issues: friendship, identity,relationships, values

This sequel to The Shakespeare Stealer, much acclaimed for its historically accurate but imaginative portrayal of Elizabethan London and the Globe theatre, is an equally interesting and well-written novel.

Widge is now a hard-working apprentice of the Lord Chamberlain's Men, mostly cast in the role of the various women in Mr Shakespeare's inventive plays. An outbreak of the Black Plague in London means that places of public gathering, including the theatres, have been closed, by order of the Queen. If the Company is to survive, they must travel like gypsies across the land and perform in the provinces. Widge is just relieved that he is to be kept on - he is always afraid that he will be cast out of his new theatre family and forced once again to work for harsher men.

Disappointed that his best friend and fellow apprentice has decided to stay in London, Widge finds that life on the road might be full of adventure but that there are considerable drawbacks. The new apprentice, although very talented, does as little of the other necessary work - such as setting up the stage, loading the wagons and looking after the horses - as possible. He is an unpleasant boy who seems determined to steal Widge's roles, whenever the actors are allowed to perform. Fear of the Plague is rife and often the Company find themselves paid not to perform in various towns that are concerned that the London players might carry the infection into a village. One such encounter turns violent and Mr Shakespeare's arm is broken. Widge finds himself not only acting as unofficial doctor to the great writer but also his scribe, using his skills in ‘charactery' to record a new comedy that the Queen has commanded the Bard to write.

Their travels take Widge back to the area of country where he grew up, where he meets someone who claims to have knowledge of his past and parentage. Is it possible that he might be reunited with his family, after nearly fifteen years? Widge is set on a course that teaches him that it is not so much a person's parentage that determines who they are but rather their experiences and what they do with them, their relationships with others and what the learn from them. This might be a painful lesson but in the end, all's well that ends well, and Widge becomes a better actor as a result.

Gary Blackwood has created another thoroughly readable narrative that gives a well-imagined insight into the life of players during the Plague years. The characters, with the notable exception of Widge, are almost all based upon real people, and writers quoted are from the period. Blackwood's talent is that he makes the Elizabethan period come alive in a way that is appealing to younger readers. He sprinkles his writing with sufficient vocabulary of the time to give an authentic flavour without making the text unapproachable. Widge's dialect is probably the most alien to modern readers but easily understood in the context. Blackwood has a light touch with narrative, so there is a lovely balance between action and emotion. Although the Plague years were a dark period of history, the author manages to maintain elements of humour that ease the reader through the more difficult passages.

Shakespeare's Scribe is a satisfying sequel to the lively Shakespeare Stealer but stands alone. Either, or both novels, are an excellent introduction to the life and times of William Shakespeare.

Same Author: Moonshine; Wild Timothy; Beyond the Door; The Dying Sun