The Shakespeare Stealer
by Gary Blackwood
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gary BlackwoodBrand: Puffin Books
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2000-07-01
ISBN: 0141305959
Number of pages: 216
Publisher: Puffin
Product features:
- ISBN13: 9780141305950
- Condition: New
- Notes: BRAND NEW FROM PUBLISHER! BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed
Book Reviews of The Shakespeare Stealer
Book Review: The Shakespeare Stealer. By Gary Blackwood. New York: 1998. Two hundred and sixteen (216) pages.
Summary: 5 Stars
This extraordinary novel, The Shakespeare Stealer, by Gary Blackwood, has been a "fast-moving" story regarding the adventure of a young boy who has the incredible ability of writing, his task begins as he enters the real world of London...
"When you go to London, you will attend a performance of a play called the Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. You will copy it in Dr. Bright's "charactery" and you will deliver it to me. Now. Any questions?"
It's as simple as that. Is it?
Widge--what kind of name is that, anyway--is an orphan and really has no talents, but one: writing in the secret code his master, Dr. Bright, invented. And that comes in use when the Falconer, a sharp, cunning man with a dark hood shadowing his scarred face, comes to pick him up and bring him to the hands of a new master, Simon Bass. Known for his talent of writing in the code, he could easily copy down--and literally steal--and bring back the play of Hamlet, that will be performed at the Globe in London, to his new master's command.
So Widge his off, Falconer "accompanying" him, but more like Widge accompanying Falconer, and they reach London in a few day's time. After lodging at an inn, they set to make their way to the theatre, Widge enjoying his trip in London...
But then, things mess up. Widge is at the play and feverishly copying down lines of players whose name he doesn't know. Then, he starts to learn the character names as he gets more involved with what the story is about. Would Hamlet do anything to get his vengeance on his father? What will happen when Hamlet dies?
They went too fast. It was quite hard to hear from back there. Those are excuses for the Falconer when Widge comes out with two-thirds of the play written down. So this must mean another trip to the Globe when Hamlet is playing again, later that week, so that Widge could complete his work...but Falconer is getting impatient.
Soon, they're headed, again, to the Globe and this time, Falconer makes Widge sneak back-stage so that he wouldn't miss a single word. Near the end of the play, when Widge has completed copying his "missed" parts, a guy comes through the back and sees Widge, accidently shooting the cannon at the ceiling. The effect is preposterous; it's all chaos as the whole audience is cramming out at once. As the Globe empties, so does Widge's bag, somehow. When he is about to reach Falconer, who stands out in the scrambling crowd, Widge realizes his table-book is gone from his pack. Stupid! He must have dropped it inside.
Back inside the Globe, Widge can't find the book, but the players find him and he has to think--fast! He pretends he was backstage to learn how to be a player. Now the adventure really starts...
Making friends was not something Widge had ever before experienced, nor did he realize how the other players were trying to make friends with him -- except Nick. Widge's new roommate, Sander, is nice and they talk quite a lot, and they are good friends by far. But Widge can't risk telling Sander his past, all the secrets and lies, how he doesn't know whether they are friends temporarily and Widge is just stalling his time to find his table-book, or whether he is on the run from his master. Widge also has to be careful when it comes to the topic of discussion about Simon Bass, who is commonly known in London as a thief for stealing plays and writing of others; no one should know that Bass himself is the master of the very young lad who is acting in their plays. He must also not show off his writing skill, which would cause suspicion.
By the time Widge is finally getting used to the routine of his new life...his new home and family...he runs into Falconer, and they have a little "talk." Falconer threats him for the play to be stolen or found, but just for Widge to have it, in one day's time. Now, it is up for Widge to decide whether he wants to choose his friends loyalty (after all they took him in and trust him so) or his masters command ("...the rewards will be considerable..."). (Widge had always grown up to his master's commands, but now...he learned the real life...he realizes that these small pleasures in life are more than any virtual rewards.) By the way Blackwood's, story is going, it doesn't seem like Widge's cover is going to last long. Soon, the building of lies that Widge is building for Falconer and the set-up for his "friends" will topple. But which way Widge will tip it, he will have to decide on his own. Either way, he will have to face consequences.
The Shakespeare Stealer is a thoroughly attention-grabbing book which, at the end, results in the unexpected......secrets. The story seems to g quite fluently and orderly, and has a series of events (unjustified) until the mysteries are revealed. The plot twists and losses throughout the story make The Shakespeare Stealer an intriguing book, of a boy who learns the true way of life with friendship and making decision, and has victory of his master, meanwhile, playing the most important scene: life.
Summary of The Shakespeare Stealer
Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet"--or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama. "A fast-moving historical novel that introduces an important era with casual familiarity." --School Library Journal, starred review
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