Overview

For centuries, readers have debated the identity of the mysterious and seductive Dark Lady in William Shakespeare's sonnets. Emilia Bassano - lady-in-waiting to Queen Elizabeth, patron of the arts and the first woman to establish herself as a professional poet in England - could be the answer. Emilia Bassano is new to Queen Elizabeth’s court and unschooled in its dangerous intrigues. She quickly catches the eye of Lord Hunsdon, the Queen’s Lord Chamberlain, and becomes his mistress. When she falls pregnant, Hunsdon arranges a hasty marriage to her brutish cousin, the court musician, Alfonso Lanyer. However, it is through her unhappy marriage to Alfonso that Emilia manages to spend more and more time with the fascinating and elusive playwright, William Shakespeare. Time goes by and, despite all their better judgement, they fall in love. But the course of true love never did run smooth, and the Virgin Queen does not take lightly to her ladies straying. These star-crossed lovers must fight for their love -- and, eventually, their lives.

Full Product Details

9781916440029

Table of Contents

Reviews

Shakespeare's Lady is a wonderful period piece. The captivating characters, descriptions, and details easily transport the reader into the world of 16th century England. The journey begins with a young Emilia Bassano in the court of Queen Victoria. It brings to life the struggles of an inexperienced girl searching for love and meaning, and how that girl evolves into a lady who eventually finds true love in the arms of an up and coming playwright. The story shows the austerity of the time period, the undue influence of royalty, and and yet the beauty of first love, unrequited love, and finally a love that cannot go unfulfilled. This is a well-written and well-researched book and I highly recommend it.

Author Information

Alex Schnee is the youngest-ever recipient of the Mount Hermon Most Promising Writer Award. Her first novel, Shakespeare's Lady, was originally published by Guideposts Books when she was 20, and is getting re-vamped and re-released by Cranthorpe Millner seven years later. She was also an honorable mention for the Nancy Lynn Schwartz Prize in 2012. She has been published in the Underground Literary Review, the Whitefish Review, and many others. She has also written as a travel writer for USA Today, the Huffington Post, and many other publications. Today, she writes and travels the world.

Tab Content 6

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

Countries Available