Reviews of The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare
-Karen Harper, national bestselling author of Mistress Shakespeare and The Queen’s Governess
“Arliss Ryan knows her Tudor London and the theater of that era. The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare brings Anne Hathaway out of the shadows into real life, not as the neglected shrew William happily left behind in Stratford, but as a sensual, humorous, talented and daring woman. This is a compelling novel with unexpected turns in every satisfying chapter.”
- Jeane Westin, author of The Virgin’s Daughters
“An entertaining and admirable novel that offers a surprising reinterpretation of Will Shakespeare’s wife, Anne Hathaway, who shares, and helps shape, his dream.”
- Sandra Worth, author of The King’s Daughter: A Novel of the First Tudor Queen
FEATHERED QUILL BOOK REVIEWS – 5/19/10
…This story is a fantastic view of life in the theatre, and one woman’s struggle to maintain her family; her attempt to keep the love for her selfish husband; and, understand the remarkable stories that are piling up inside her own head. The history behind such tales as Much Ado about Nothing, Hamlet, Richard III, and others is beyond engrossing to read about. This author brings her abundance of research and well-written verse to her own audience, and literally transports readers back to the world of William Shakespeare, and the secrets that he left behind.
Quill says: Applause is the ultimate aphrodisiac for any author. After reading this, you’ll not only applaud Anne Shakespeare, but you’ll also give Arliss Ryan a standing ovation for a job well done.
Amy Lignor
http://www.featheredquill.com/reviews/biographies/ryan.shtml
GENRE GO ROUND REVIEWS – 5/22/10
…With a nod to Shakespeare in Love, this is a terrific biographical fiction with the twist of using expected Elizabethan Era gender roles (ironically with who rules) and the belief by some that the Bard did not write all of his backlist to provide a deep spin to the legend of Shakespeare. The story line transports readers back in time, but the fun in this wonderful historical is the lamination on some of the plays like Hamlet. Reader will enjoy The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare as a different spin to the legend is wonderfully developed.
Harriet Klausner
http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/2010/05/secret-confessions-of-anne-shakespeare.html
HISTORICAL-FICTION.COM – 7/5/10
…For me the most interesting part of this novel is the timeline and origin of the plays (and Will’s sonnets), as it is done in such a way as to explain why either Will or Anne decided on the themes, characters and topics at the time. It was always a circumstance or event that prompted their ideas, which gives the story substance and relevance. This so intrigued me that I have gone on a sort of Shakespeare kick and purchased a 2 volume set of Shakespeare’s entire works to peruse as well as a biography and another book based on the subject of Elizabethan theater. It feels strange to suddenly enjoy Shakespeare, when I didn’t care for it at all in school, but that just goes to show that a really great novel such as this can change a mind and open a person to further reading.
…There are many famous names and personas to enjoy: Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, Queen Elizabeth I, Bess of Hardwick, and Arbella Stuart (to name a few). Late Elizabethan and early Stuart England are described in detail, both politically and in matters of everyday life. Through many ups and downs Will and Anne persevere—all the way to the end of their life together with a touching scene that explains why Will famously bequeathed her the ‘second best’ bed.
I could have devoured this book in a matter of days, but I made myself read it slowly and take in every word, pausing to make notes and write down quotes as I went. It’s that sort of book—Anne is so easy to identify with. She deciphers characters, both real and those appearing in her plays, so adroitly that you may have to convince yourself that this is a work of fiction.
…The entire book is filled with these wonderful insights and pieces of wisdom. The end of June has wrapped up my mid-year of book reviewing and I must claim this one as my favorite so far! If you’re planning to purchase a new book for yourself soon, this is my recommendation, Shakespeare fan or not!
Arleigh Johnson
http://historical-fiction.com/?p=1888
HISTORICAL-FICTION.COM – 12/31/10
MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE OF 2010: The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare by Arliss Ryan
This is a book to savor! I added it to my ‘upcoming’ page when I came across it on Amazon, and to my delight the author, Arliss Ryan, emailed me and offered to send me a copy for review. The cover screams ‘young adult’ but looks are deceiving in this case, as it is a very mature, well-written story and absolutely plausible, as the origins of Shakespeare’s plays and the man himself are vague in historical documentation. I copied quote after quote from this book, and rarely do I read a book and feel the inclination to do so, which–to me–makes this a very noteworthy read!
I had the pleasure of meeting Arliss Ryan at a nearby town where she was giving a lecture on writing historical fiction and having a book discussion at Foxtale Book Shoppe in Woodstock. It was a very insightful chat and I walked away with my copy of The Confessions of Anne Shakespeare signed!
…If I have the opportunity of re-reading any book this coming year, it will be The Confessions of Anne Shakespeare!
Arleigh Johnson
http://historical-fiction.com/?p=2791#comments
BOOKNAROUNDBLOGSPOT – 10/31/10
…Narrated in Anne’s voice, the novel is engrossing and eminently believable in terms of the authorship question. Ryan has drawn a good and full portrait of Elizabethan England, the London of that era, the roles and expectations for women, and allows her characters to know and interact with the major players in the theater of the time in ways that are easily convincing. The insights into the theater world of Elizabethan times is truly fascinating. The Hathaway of the novel, while not found in this incarnation in the historical record (actually, Hathaway is barely found in the historical record at all), is a wonderful creation. She is smart and resourceful, loyal and persevering. She could easily have been the playwright that we so revere today with Shakespeare himself only responsible for the beauty of the sonnets and poetry. Most decidedly a feminist rewriting, Ryan has crafted a well-written and interesting take on the question of authorship, intellectual property, love, and the the importance of acknowledging, rather than hiding, the source of amazing talent. Anne is the most fully constructed character here with all others, including Shakespeare himself, being much less dimensional. But it is, after all, Anne’s story, her confession, her claiming, that is so gripping and intriguing. Historical fiction lovers will find this imagined life eminently appealing. And even if Anne Hathaway didn’t write Shakespeare’s plays, I am quite certain that her fictional character here is a grand stand-in for some other real life woman, brimming with talent and marginalized in her time, her achievements gone unnoticed or claimed by men.
Kristen
http://booknaround.blogspot.com/2010/10/review-secret-confessions-of-anne.html
BIPPITYBOPPITYBOOK.BLOGSPOT.COM – 11/27/10
…Shakespeare’s plays written by his wife? Say what?! I imagine that is what a reader is thinking upon first reading the premise of his book. Then Arliss Ryan introduces us to Anne-a highly intelligent, strong voiced and conflicted woman whom you can totally relate to. She loves Will but is never sure if her feelings are returned. She knows she is a talented writer and wants credit for her work but also knows that the plays will suffer once she is revealed as author. She feels guilt for choosing a life in London with Will over mothering her children back in Stratford. As we follow her thought processes and feelings as she delves deeper into every play, it becomes entirely plausible to see how Anne could have penned the famous works. As You Like It, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet? Those “were” written by Anne. The Merchant of Venice, Julius Caesar and the Sonnets? Those were all Will Shakespeare. Richard II and Henry V? Well, that was both of them.
…I loved following along with Anne on her journey and seriously did not want this book to end. The only way I can see someone not enjoying this book is if they refuse to entertain the notion that someone other than William Shakespeare wrote the plays, even if the idea is entirely fictional or if they are put off by a less favorable characterization of the Bard. I personally do not believe that Anne Hathaway had a hand in his plays but this story was intriguing enough to explore the idea anyway. Hey, anything is possible I suppose.
Holly
http://bippityboppitybook.blogspot.com/2010/11/review-secret-confessions-of-anne.html
BIPPITYBOPPITYBOOK.BLOGSPOT.COM – 12/23/10
My TOP 10 Historical Fiction Reads of the Year:
The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare by Arliss Ryan is a book I only heard mentioned in a couple of places this year which is a shame because it was REALLY good. It tells the story of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s first wife whom we meet on her death bed when she confesses to her grand daughter that Will didn’t write all the famous plays-she did. Anne goes on to tell her life story in a voice that is believable and so alive. I really loved this character and I love when an author can take a character that was a mere footnote in history and craft such a wonderful story about them.
Holly
READINGWORLD SUSAN COVENTRY – 5/16/11
I loved this book…once I started, I couldn’t put it down.
…In Arliss Ryan’s The Secret Confessions of Anne Shakespeare, Anne refuses to play the role of cast-off wife. Told in a first person voice, the reader gets a chance to know Anne before she meets and falls in love with Will Shakespeare. Her eyes are wide open. She sees his faults as clearly as his strengths. Ryan paints a surprisingly realistic picture of a romance that is not particularly romantic. There is much to admire in Will, but it’s not his capacity to be a husband and father.
…The storyline is richly detailed and emotionally complex. Anne has to compromise quite a bit to put up with Will, but she never surrenders. She is able to build her own life around that of her husband. They complement each other, contributing to a greater success.
Anne’s drive-by analysis of each of the plays in the Shakespeare canon alone is worth the price of admission. Some she claims are her best work. Others, collaborations, they struggle over, and we get to watch the plays come together. Finally, there are those she simply dismisses as bad plays.
This is a delightful book. Although I recognize it as a complete fiction, while immersed in the book I was in another world. Nothing jarred. I was willing to believe. And I fear I’ll never quite look at Shakespeare in the same way.
Susan Coventry
http://susancoventry.blogspot.com/2011/05/escape-to-past-with-secret-confessions.html
