“A witty and fast-moving story,by turns hilarious and pathetic. [Stewart] writes gracefully and vividly,and his book unfolds like a thriller. He is especially good at exploring the strained relationship between Ireland and his perennially disapproving father. Anyone interested in literary fraud or Shakespeare’s afterlife will find Stewart’s book a compelling overview of one of the literary world’s most brazen impostures.”
—The Los Angeles Times
A “vivid dissection of the folly of human nature. This is a great book club choice and an excellent selection for readers of literary thrillers,history,or social science.”
—Library Journal
“One of the most bizarre literary frauds in British history. . . . Journalist Doug Stewart crafts a lively account of an adolescent prank that achieved a kind of preposterous grandeur.”
—The Boston Globe
“As a non-fiction thriller,this is absolutely first class. . . . Even people who are unaware of most of the people involved here will find this account completely gripping. Beneath all the excitement,though,there’s a rather tender story of a boy,unsure of his place in the world,pining for his father’s affection and yet knowing that his actions could eventually have dire consequences for that same father—it’s almost Shakespearean itself,and Stewart draws on this beautifully.”
—The Bookbag (UK) (five-star review)
“As entertaining as it is informative;modern readers,accustomed to Shakespeare’s place of reverence,will be surprised to learn how ignorant Georgian England was of his work. Where Stewart’s research truly shines is an accessing Ireland’s human motivations—his desire for approval and artistic legitimacy,not profit,distinguishes him from other cons,making him neither wholly despicable nor pitiable. History and literary enthusiasts will be delighted with this smart investigation into a high-minded hoax.”
—Publishers Weekly“A rip-roaring,hard-to-put-down,true story of a frustrated young writer living in 18th-century London who thought he was at least as good as,if not better than,Shakespeare and set out to prove it.”
—The Santa Fe New Mexican
“Journalist Doug Stewart has written an eminently readable and even suspenseful book,centered on Ireland’s 18 months amid scorched ink and ancient parchment. . . . Along with the false discoveries,we are also treated to mini bios of a deliciously colorful nature. . . . This new book acts as a kind of diorama of the times—letting us glimpse people’s behavior and their willingness to believe.”
—Cleveland Plain Dealer
“Doug Stewart has authored a many-layered book that details the vanity,greed,naivete,mores,and pride within both a family and society. It is a thoroughly enjoyable read—a fascinating page-turner that keeps us wondering what will happen next.”
—blogcritics.org
“Stewart’s fascinating history recounts William-Henry’s short,frantic rise and fall,his brush with fame,and his subsequent lifelong infamy. He places William-Henry’s remarkable achievement,which for a time fooled many of England’s literary and other notables,including James Boswell,in the context of eighteenth-century England,a time when literacy was rising,the gossip-filled newspaper business booming,and the country was hungry for any artifact connected to the Bard. But Stewart’s real achievement lies in how grippingly he tells William-Henry’s story. . . . By the end of the book,he has got us to care about the young,hapless fraud.”
—Booklist
“Doug Stewart’s ‘The Boy Who Would Be Shakespeare’reads almost as if it were one of Shakespeare’s own farces. . . . Stewart’s writing is witty and will appeal to a wide audience. For readers who do not have much familiarity with Shakespeare’s writing or biography,background information is skillfully woven into the narrative.”
—Internet Review of Books
“Any scandal is a juicy read,but Stewart’s needling prose and incredible attention to detail make this scandal all the better,and the fact that it is all true is not lost on the reader. . . . Shakespeare enthusiasts,English lit fans,and history buffs and anyone who likes a fun mystery will be delighted.”
—Sacramento Book Review
“A wonderfully crafted book.”
—Tucson Citizen
“Well-researched,witty,and informative,The Boy Who Would Be Shakespeare almost reads like a work of fiction. I was engrossed from beginning to end. After all,the idea that this teenager was able to convince anyone that his writings were Shakespeare’s is absurd—and yet,it happened. Stewart’s account of how and why it happened is captivating.”
—Curled Up With a Good Book (www.curledup.com)