Shakespeare and the Theater

Gr 6 Up—These titles include a biography and an overview of the Elizabethan and Jacobean theaters. A lot of information is packed into each slim volume. The authors make excellent use of primary-source material in order to make Shakespeare interesting and accessible to this age group. There are many sidebars, with captions such as "What's the Evidence?," "I Was There," "Myth" (famous stories about Shakespeare which probably aren't true), and "What Now?" (Shakespeare in modern times). There are also numerous colorful illustrations, often from primary sources, and photographs of modern productions of Shakespeare's plays. Each volume includes a time line, a list of all known theaters in Shakespeare's London, and extras such as a table comparing current prices and wages with those of Shakespeare's day. The books are at their strongest when they are relaying factual historical material, and the authors are careful to avoid unsupported speculation or generalizations. The few sections of literary analysis are not as strong, making these books best suited for students looking for information about Shakespeare and the times in which he lived.—Kathleen E. Gruver, Burlington County Library, Westampton, NJ