An audacious and pacey romp through the life of William Shakespeare, it has long been regarded as the classic Shakespeare novel. From his humble origins to his exalted status as England's premier playwright and on to his tragic death, Burgess tells his story - leaving nothing out. Of particular interest to Burgess is Shakespeare's love-life, and the effect his relationships had on his work. From the historical sources, Burgess focuses on several of Shakespeare's possible relationships... and imagines how these translate into his work.