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(More customer reviews)The Shakespeare Stealer is a book about a poor orphan boy, called Widge, living in Shakespearean England who can write a rare coded language in which symbols for each word can be written as the words are said. His forceful master, taking advantage of his ability, orders him to go to the Globe Theater to steal Shakespeare's Hamlet by writing down the lines of the play as the actors are acting them out. Though Widge, the poor, nameless orphan boy feels stealing the play is wrong, he enters the Globe Theater to copy down the play Hamlet. He is found by the players at the theater and they take him in and treat them as one of their own, while also being trained as an actor. While living with one of the men from the Lord Chamberlain's Men (the playing troupe) Widge, a country boy, adjusts to city life. However, Widge has not forgotten the threat his master made to him if he did not bring him a copy of Hamlet, and Widge knows that he has sent someone to London to find him and bring him back to the country. While living in London, Widge's accent is not the only thing that changes. For the first time in his life Widge can make decisions on his own. He learns about the meaning of words such as honesty, trust, loyalty, and friendship. He begins to realize that by working and living with the Lord Chamberlain's men, he is betraying them. The real reason he came to the theater was not to become a player, but to steal from Shakespeare himself, and consequently hurting the people who he is now closest to. Widge tries to decide whether he should betray his friends and copy the play or betray his master and stay in the Lord Chamberlain's Men for acting, not for the purpose of stealing a play, even though it means if his master finds him, Widge will receive severe punishment. Widge also learns that the playing troupe has become like family to him, something he has never experienced, but loves very much. Now he wonders: If his master finds him, will the only family he's ever known disappear from him forever?
I felt as though I could relate with the main character, Widge, for one main reason. All through his life, Widge tries to search for, or feel, a sense of belonging. I have moved between two continents and a dozen more houses during my life. I know how important it is to have a sense of belonging somewhere, because having a sense of belonging somewhere makes people unique and who they are. Widge learns that as long as everybody has people who love and care for them it doesn't matter where they live, they will always feel at home and as though thewy belong. That is why I think that Widge's "family" at the Globe Theater is so important and dear to him. I think The Shakespeare Stealer has a good message about family, and how no matter what it is lie, it is important to everybody's sense of belonging, is a good message.
I loved this book. It not only has action, such as duels and manhunts, it had a great perspective of Elizabethan life in the late fifteen hundreds from a teenager's point of view. My favorite part of the book is when Widge gets his first chance at acting on stage with the players. He was so nervous, he was sure he would forget everything, but once he was on stage he made a great performance. I think it proves that if anyone tries hard they can conquer just about anything. My least favorite part of the book was when an actor from The Lord Chamberlain's Men was forced to leave because she had disguised herself as a boy, because it was illegal for women to act. If I could change any part of the book, it would be that Julian, were allowed to stay on and act with the players, even though she was a girl. I think the fact that Julia was not allowed to stay on with the players, even if they wanted her to, shows the general sexism against women in England at the time, even though it was getting better because the sole ruler of England was a queen (Queen Elizabeth).
I would definitely recommend The Shakespeare Stealer to others because it has action, emotion, drama, and it is a great historical-fiction. It also shows a lot of aspects of Elizabethan England, but it is definitely not a bore. I think someone who likes excitement and historical fiction would greatly enjoy this book, and I highly recommend it.
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