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Revision as of 15:47, 14 April 2010
, 15:47, 14 April 2010Created page with '{{infobox |title=The Fool's Girl |sort= Fool's Girl |author=Celia Rees |reviewer=Robert James |genre=Teens |summary=Really enjoyable mix of Shakespearean characters and historica…'
{{infobox
|title=The Fool's Girl
|sort= Fool's Girl
|author=Celia Rees
|reviewer=Robert James
|genre=Teens
|summary=Really enjoyable mix of Shakespearean characters and historical people make this a novel for teens and adults to savour.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|paperback=0747597324
|pages=320
|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
|date=April 2010
|isbn=978-0747597322
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747597324</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0747597324</amazonus>
}}
When Illyria is sacked, the fool Feste spirits the
Duke's daughter, Violetta, to London, to chase the evil Malvolio and
reclaim an ancient relic. There they meet William Shakespeare, who
they persuade to help them in an exciting quest which builds to a
climax in the Forest of Arden.
As those with more than a passing knowledge of Shakespeare will
realize, Feste and Malvolio are characters from Twelfth Night, and
it's that story which Violetta – daughter of heroine Viola – tells
Shakespeare the first time they meet, thus inspiring the play.
However, as she says to Will, ''few stories end at the happy ever
after'' and much of this book is told in flashbacks as we hear of the
perils which beset Illyria in the years following the familiar events.
I have to admit, my knowledge of Twelfth Night is patchy, (I know the
basic plot and have seen the Amanda Bynes film based very loosely on
it, but have never read or seen the play itself), but I still found
these parts really interesting, and am sure those readers more
familiar than I am with it will enjoy it even more.
In between the flashbacks, Violetta, Feste, her love Stephano, and
Shakespeare himself try to regain the ancient relic. We also get
cameos from Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State Robert Cecil, the
legendary actor Richard Burbage, and some of the people who
Shakespeare would base characters from other plays on. I don't want to
give too much away about these other characters, but a certain Robin
plays an important part, and is just as I'd imagined his character to
be. There's a great mix of stirring action and excellent dialogue, as
Will is left trying to help the heroes recapture the treasure but also
follow the demands of the Machiavellian Cecil.
Celia Rees specialises in writing about strong, independent heroines,
and Violetta certainly doesn't let the reader down there. She's
continually brave, defiant in the face of danger, and ready to stand
up for herself, her country and her friends. The supporting cast here
is also really well-described – the mixture of fictional and real
characters works well, and the historical figures always seem very
believably written. Her description of Elizabethan times is also very
good, and her depiction of Illyria – based on Croatia at that time,
according to her acknowledgements – is excellent.
All in all this is most likely to be enjoyed by those with at least a
passing knowledge of Shakespeare and Elizabethan times, enough to
recognize the majority of the characters. Having said that, it's
certainly not inaccessible to others – as I mentioned earlier, my own
familiarity with Twelfth Night is sketchy at best, and those readers
who don't realise which Shakespearean heroes and villains these
characters are inspired by (or inspiring, depending how you look at
it!) will still enjoy this as a really good romp.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
Further Reading: Tudor inspired novels and non-fiction works appear to
in high demand at the moment and there's plenty to choose from. Any
teenagers interested in Shakespeare would enjoy the non-fiction [[The
Boy Who Would Be Shakespeare by Doug Stewart]]. Those interested in
16th century novels will surely like both [[The King's Rose by Alisa M
Libby]], and [[The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen]].
{{amazontext|amazon=0747597324}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6861852}}
{{commenthead}}
|title=The Fool's Girl
|sort= Fool's Girl
|author=Celia Rees
|reviewer=Robert James
|genre=Teens
|summary=Really enjoyable mix of Shakespearean characters and historical people make this a novel for teens and adults to savour.
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|paperback=0747597324
|pages=320
|publisher=Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
|date=April 2010
|isbn=978-0747597322
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0747597324</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0747597324</amazonus>
}}
When Illyria is sacked, the fool Feste spirits the
Duke's daughter, Violetta, to London, to chase the evil Malvolio and
reclaim an ancient relic. There they meet William Shakespeare, who
they persuade to help them in an exciting quest which builds to a
climax in the Forest of Arden.
As those with more than a passing knowledge of Shakespeare will
realize, Feste and Malvolio are characters from Twelfth Night, and
it's that story which Violetta – daughter of heroine Viola – tells
Shakespeare the first time they meet, thus inspiring the play.
However, as she says to Will, ''few stories end at the happy ever
after'' and much of this book is told in flashbacks as we hear of the
perils which beset Illyria in the years following the familiar events.
I have to admit, my knowledge of Twelfth Night is patchy, (I know the
basic plot and have seen the Amanda Bynes film based very loosely on
it, but have never read or seen the play itself), but I still found
these parts really interesting, and am sure those readers more
familiar than I am with it will enjoy it even more.
In between the flashbacks, Violetta, Feste, her love Stephano, and
Shakespeare himself try to regain the ancient relic. We also get
cameos from Queen Elizabeth's Secretary of State Robert Cecil, the
legendary actor Richard Burbage, and some of the people who
Shakespeare would base characters from other plays on. I don't want to
give too much away about these other characters, but a certain Robin
plays an important part, and is just as I'd imagined his character to
be. There's a great mix of stirring action and excellent dialogue, as
Will is left trying to help the heroes recapture the treasure but also
follow the demands of the Machiavellian Cecil.
Celia Rees specialises in writing about strong, independent heroines,
and Violetta certainly doesn't let the reader down there. She's
continually brave, defiant in the face of danger, and ready to stand
up for herself, her country and her friends. The supporting cast here
is also really well-described – the mixture of fictional and real
characters works well, and the historical figures always seem very
believably written. Her description of Elizabethan times is also very
good, and her depiction of Illyria – based on Croatia at that time,
according to her acknowledgements – is excellent.
All in all this is most likely to be enjoyed by those with at least a
passing knowledge of Shakespeare and Elizabethan times, enough to
recognize the majority of the characters. Having said that, it's
certainly not inaccessible to others – as I mentioned earlier, my own
familiarity with Twelfth Night is sketchy at best, and those readers
who don't realise which Shakespearean heroes and villains these
characters are inspired by (or inspiring, depending how you look at
it!) will still enjoy this as a really good romp.
I'd like to thank the publishers for sending a copy to The Bookbag.
Further Reading: Tudor inspired novels and non-fiction works appear to
in high demand at the moment and there's plenty to choose from. Any
teenagers interested in Shakespeare would enjoy the non-fiction [[The
Boy Who Would Be Shakespeare by Doug Stewart]]. Those interested in
16th century novels will surely like both [[The King's Rose by Alisa M
Libby]], and [[The Lady in the Tower by Marie-Louise Jensen]].
{{amazontext|amazon=0747597324}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=6861852}}
{{commenthead}}
