Mistress Shakespeare

November 24, 2008
On November 27, 1582, the Worcester archives show a grant for a marriage license for one Anne Whateley and her groom, Wm Shaxpere. Yet several days later, William Shakespeare married a pregnant Anne Hathaway. Harper's slack latest takes this mystery as its subject, imagining Anne Whateley as Shakespeare's only true love. Friends from childhood driven apart by their families' antipathy, Will and Anne rediscover each other as they come of age, and the young lovers plan to wed in spite of their families' disapproval. When Will is forced into marriage with Anne Hathaway, Anne Whateley flees to London and throws herself into her family's business, but the two reunite when Will arrives in London, and Anne becomes his tireless promoter. The novel's chief pleasures derive from the easy intersection of Shakespeare's work, the history of Elizabethan England and the life that the author imagines Shakespeare might have had. Though the Bard's language infuses the story with life, the emotions underlying the lovers' ruptures and reunions feel repetitive, and because there is never any question about how the romance plays out, the central narrative feels flat.

March 2, 2009
Verdict: Harper's portrait of William Shakespeare's rumored second wife joins a subgenre of historical novels speculating on the Bard's life and work. The author's combination of historical detail with the story of thwarted lovers extends the novel's appeal to more than just Shakespeare fans. Recommended for public libraries with historical fiction collections. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 10/1/08.] Background: Elizabethan England is a familiar setting to Harper; her popular mystery series featuring the queen herself (Poyson Garden) spans the reign with nine volumes. This new novel focuses on the marriage bond issued to Anne Whateley of Temple Grafton one day before the wedding of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. Harper proves her mastery of writing romance as well as historical fiction. For another view of the two Annes, see Laurie Lawlore's YA novel, The Two Loves of Will Shakespeare.-Mary K. Bird-Guilliams, Wichita P.L., KS

Copyright 2009 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

January 1, 2009
Among the many mysteries of Shakespeares life is a marriage license issued to him and one Anne Whateleyshortly before he wed Anne Hathaway. Harper spins this mystery into a novel about Shakespeares true love, the Dark Lady of the Sonnets. In Harpers telling, Anne Whateley and Shakespeare are childhood friends, but after the Hathaway marriage, Whateley goes to London and makes a life for herself as a businesswoman. When the playwright embarks on his London phase, she is there, engaged in Wills world and helping to advance his career.Harper, who writes a mystery series featuring ElizabethI as a sleuth, knowsher period well, and it shows, sometimes in the form of awkward expository dialogue but more often in sure handling of the details of politics, theater, and daily life, including some harrowing passages featuring childbirth and the plague. Though Shakespeare himself remains a cipher, Anne is an appealing and spirited heroine, and her tale will be enjoyed by historical-fiction fans.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)