William Shakespeare

Books on Shakespeare, Shakespeare’s plays and Shakespeare’s theatre are not difficult to find on publishers’ lists or library shelves. Here is another that does a reasonable job of covering all three subjects for 11-14 year olds. It does not offer much on any one thing, and a subject like the Renaissance is better left alone if you do not have the space to do it justice; but Ross is accurate and interesting. Perhaps the best part of the book is the last few sections. Ross’s overview of Shakespeare’s work in the context of his time and its more lasting significance is an accomplished summary. He is also able to warn us about taking some of the illustrations (from Victorian paintings) seriously as historical records. Presumably they were included to keep up the designer’s quota of at least three pictures to each double page.