Will in the World

Greenblatt offers many facts about Shakespeare's times, many wild conjectures about Shakespeare's life, and many specious analyses about Shakespeare's art. Written divertingly, if not convincingly, the book is yet another critical exegesis on the Bard of Avon's life and times. What sets it apart is the engaging performance of narrator Peter Jay Fernandez, whose obvious relish for this material--especially the excerpts from the plays--is evident throughout. He is not the most insightful or graceful interpreter of the poet's writings, but he is by no means the worst either. He enjoys quoting the Elizabethan sources, and his relish is infectious. Those who may miss a British accent should be reminded that Shakespeare and his fellow players did not have what we today recognize as a British accent. Y.R. (c) AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine