The Last Bard

Whether readers like Shakespeare or not, this is tremendous fun. Maz Evans is well known as the author of Who Let the Gods Out? and its sequels, and for other witty novels for young people, and this one is just as clever and funny.

Thirteen- year- old Will Davenant has no time for Shakespeare, so he is not very excited when, while attempting to clear his deceased grandfather’s flat, he finds an ancient ‘Complete Works’ with various papers tucked inside, but when he opens it, he is astonished to find 4 tiny characters from the plays greeting him as his grandfather’s heir ‘Bard’, and demanding chicken nuggets. Grandfather Rex and previous ‘Bards’ had released most of the characters, and they are out in the world leading their own modern lives. Will and his Mum, Mary, have been living a miserable life with Mary’s ‘kindly’ brother, Claude, and his son, Jon, so this is a respite for them. They soon get drawn in to the lives of some of the people who live in Arden Heights, and the possibility of the block being sold for development, with a fat pay-off for the residents. The Shakespearean characters offer to help keep everyone in their own flats, and their involvement leads to some interesting consequences. Mary had started off on the wrong foot, arguing with neighbour Ben, and they become a Beatrice and Benedick couple, (Much Ado about Nothing) with Ben’s foster daughter, Ani Hathaway, ‘accidentally’ letting slip that each fancies the other, until they do, of course. Ani takes charge of Will and helps him to enjoy life. They help solve the mystery of a lost daughter (A Winter’s Tale) and eventually sort out two couples mixed up in love (Midsummer Night’s Dream). Claude’s machinations are exposed, and Mary’s and Will’s prospects look much better as the story ends.

(The historical William Davenant, from whom grandfather Rex and Will are supposed to be descended, was rumoured to be the illegitimate son of William Shakespeare, but we may never know!)

The Shakespearean characters are great fun, with Lady Macbeth always hoping for someone to murder, Juliet looking for romance, the lugubrious Yorick predicting doom, and Puck up to his usual mischief: the reader often has to supply the end of his cheeky rhyming couplets, which is not difficult…

Maz Evans evidently loves puns, and there are some enjoyable chapter headings, notably: ‘The Taming of the Shrewd’ and ‘Stairlift-crossed lovers’, but there are other recognisably Shakespearean nods, which can be ignored, but were much appreciated by your reviewer.