katiebottomley's review against another edition
Very interesting book, I really enjoyed the liberties that Harper took on historical facts, and twisted them into a beautiful story. I like to think there were 2 Annes as well!
helenephoebe's review against another edition
3.0
Review - I thought that the idea for this book was brilliant, based on a real surviving source which suggests that William Shakespeare married Anne Whateley before he married Anne Hathaway. However, I don't think that it was achieved as well as it could have been, as Anne Whateley came across as a whingeing child even when she was in her thirties and forties, making it seem that she had never grown up or realised that Will was actually married to another. Nevertheless, it is an enjoyable romp through Elizabethan England with characters that we recognise.
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Will Shakespeare / Anne Whateley / Anne Hathaway / Suzannah Shakespeare / Hamnet Shakespeare / Jennet / Robert Cecil
Setting? - Temple Grafton, Stratford-Upon-Avon, & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
For discussion questions see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/discussion-questions-shakespeares-mistress-by-karen-harper/
Genre? - Historical / Romance
Characters? - Will Shakespeare / Anne Whateley / Anne Hathaway / Suzannah Shakespeare / Hamnet Shakespeare / Jennet / Robert Cecil
Setting? - Temple Grafton, Stratford-Upon-Avon, & London (England)
Series? - N/A
Recommend? – Yes
Rating - 15/20
For discussion questions see my blog https://bookbloggerish.wordpress.com/2020/06/12/discussion-questions-shakespeares-mistress-by-karen-harper/
ellies_edition's review against another edition
5.0
An exciting fictional novel based on the figure of Anne Whateley: the woman William Shakespeare may have intended to marry before Anne Hathaway.
Presented as Shakespeare's infamous "dark lady", Anne tells her own story of heroism, romance, secrecy, hardship, and life in Elizabethan England during the days of William Shakespeare.
Presented as Shakespeare's infamous "dark lady", Anne tells her own story of heroism, romance, secrecy, hardship, and life in Elizabethan England during the days of William Shakespeare.
lauraksingleton's review against another edition
3.0
P.182 -- "All theatre folk have vices, and that's the fun of them, the theatre offstage, if you will."
P.348 -- "I'd suggest you steer clear of actors and such. A volatile, overly emotional lot."
P.348 -- "I'd suggest you steer clear of actors and such. A volatile, overly emotional lot."
novellenovels's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
amberinpieces's review against another edition
4.0
Who was William Shakespeare’s great love? Was it his wife, Anne Hathaway? His work in London? Or was it his other Anne, his dark exotic beauty, his muse, his only love, and perhaps, his true wife?
The story is narrated by Anne Whateley, the daughter of an English merchant and an Italian acrobat. Anne grew up in Temple Grafton, a village near to Stratford-upon-Avon, and became friends with Will, Kate, and Dick at an early age. Anne and Will had a long history and when they neared adulthood, they became lovers and decided to marry. Their names were recorded by the church as two who wished to marry and they held a secret ceremony with a friend and priest. A handfast marriage. However, the day after their names were entered into the record, Will’s name appeared again, this time with one Anne Hathaway.
Read the full review here.
The story is narrated by Anne Whateley, the daughter of an English merchant and an Italian acrobat. Anne grew up in Temple Grafton, a village near to Stratford-upon-Avon, and became friends with Will, Kate, and Dick at an early age. Anne and Will had a long history and when they neared adulthood, they became lovers and decided to marry. Their names were recorded by the church as two who wished to marry and they held a secret ceremony with a friend and priest. A handfast marriage. However, the day after their names were entered into the record, Will’s name appeared again, this time with one Anne Hathaway.
Read the full review here.
ninetalevixen's review against another edition
3.0
Decent plot and likable characters, though the actual storytelling was not all that special. Repetitive and dull at times, too fast-paced at others.
doriastories's review against another edition
2.0
This book struck me as pretty light-weight, to say nothing of the fact that the entire premise - Shakespeare secretly married another woman before he was forcibly wed to Ann Hathaway - is pretty shaky. It's basically a paperback torrid romance, Elizabethan style: love in the time of Bubonic plague, etc. It's okay for reading on the T, but I kept finding myself covering the cover. Forsooth!
libraryowl's review against another edition
3.0
Mistress Shakespeare is about the interesting premise that Shakespeare had a wife the day before he married the wife known in historical accounts. This fictionalized story tells about Anne Whateley who lived the life of Shakespeare's mistress despite having been his first wife a day before. This story tells of her influence in his life and their story as a couple. It is in stories like this that I have to remind myself that women of the past weren't seen as strong independent beings. In modern times I would see Anne Whateley as foolish, hanging on to a man who was only partially there for her and never fully committed. However, if this story were to take place in the past, this may have not been so surprising for one of her status. The book was likable despite moments where I felt the novel dragged. The descriptive moments were strong, but at times, too much. I liked the book, but was unable to love it because of my lapses in interest at some segments.
krismercier's review against another edition
2.0
Basically like a Shakespeare fanfic. Not bad but nothing incredible about it.