Having thoroughly enjoyed many of Bernard Cornwell's books in the past, I was a bit disappointed by this book. It was a bit slow going at the beginning, but after a while the plot did pick up speed and I was eager to find out what would happen in the end. The historical detail is fascinating, combined with a historical note at the end to filter through the fact and fiction. Cornwell does successfully paint a beautiful picture of Elizabethan London. There is a big focus on the plots of Shakespeare's plays and would therefore interest English Literature fans, as well as those who love historical novels.

I had not read anything by Bernard Cornwall before so this title intrigued me. I like Elizabethan England but did feel that it had been pretty well covered. I was wrong this approaches the subject from the point of view of Shakespears players. There has obviously been a lot of research undertaken into the time and it gives a real insight into the theater at this time and how it operated. The book is easy to read and the characters draw you in. I hope Bernard writes more books in this genre as I will certainly buy them.

Only fools and mortals
As a storyteller Bernard Cornwell continues to grow. This latest book is a departure from both his Sharpe and Saxon series in that it not set in any wars, but it is still historical fiction. Something that the author does best.
This time we are treated to, what seemed to be to me an accurate portrayal of life in Shakespeare’s time. Cornwell weaves a rich tapestry of characters and events that seduced me into the story. Although once again, the lead character, Shakespeare younger brother, faces a struggle to stay alive, to live and to love. Whilst being up against the odds. As are his previous characters Sharpe and Uthred. Although this time our hero has a famous older brother. How accurate Mr Cornwell’s William Shakespeare is, well we’ll never really know will we? The story had a hold of me from the beginning, and whilst I perhaps have never really appreciated the Bard as much as I ought, this book piqued my interest in his life and work.
I’d recommend this book; Bernard Cornwell should be congratulated for his wherewithal to write a book in which this country’s most celebrated writer appears as a ‘co-star’.

I was lucky enough to receive this book before publication for an honest and unbiased review, Thank you.

Hmm, perhaps this was a bad choice for my first foray into the world of Bernard Cornwell. I've seen his books around for years, and after my recent binge-read (and love) of Ken Follett's epic Pillars of the Earth trilogy, I was longing for some more historical fiction. This was just so bland and tame in comparison, though.

Glancing around reviews, I see that this is outside of the author's usual comfort zone, making me think I should maybe try The Last Kingdom or The Winter King instead. I cannot say for sure whether I was just really uninterested in the subject matter of Fools and Mortals - theatre - or whether Cornwell didn't do it very well. All I know is that the characters didn't excite me, the story didn't grab me, and I finished this relatively short book feeling relieved I'd managed to push through.

Fools and Mortals introduces us to Richard Shakespeare, brother of the famous William Shakespeare and an aspiring actor in Elizabethan England, who constantly finds himself in his brother's shadow, picking up the female roles in plays, and rarely being given a chance to shine. Unfortunately, I felt no connection or anything for him. He was bland and forgettable, and worse - the main conflicts are not exciting or dramatic enough.

Considering the darkness, the religious conflicts and brutal tortures of the era, Cornwell's story of theatre was very "light". The characters are silly, inoffensive and occasionally buffoonish with “Show us your tits, ladies,” being pretty much the worst of it. Much of the story is a repetitive cycle of rehearsal and performance, which made it seem far longer than it actually was. I was bored.

I have definitely been spoiled by the delicious drama of Ken Follett. I was hoping for some more of that here, but sadly no. Still, I will try the author's other work.

Although I have seen various screen adaptations of Bernard Cornwell's books I don't think that I had previously read any of his novels. This one was both interesting and enlightening. The early history of the theatre is brought to life with a number of real characters included, not least William Shakespeare and Will Kemp. The descriptions of life on the edge (of poverty, the Court, etc) in London were well written and believable - a change from stories of Elizabethan royalty and the upper classes. Well worth a read.

Cornwell has been one of my favourite authors for a number of years and I have read most of his series of books. Therefore, I felt it was imperative that I stayed completely neutral when reading and reviewing this book..
The plot centres around Shakespeare's brother Richard. and the hardships that had to be enduring in acting and producing plays in Elizabethan London.. The two brothers, William and Richard have a love / hate relationship which I felt wasn't adequately explained. Interestingly, William played a quite minor role in the book, with comparatively few lines.
The depictions about living conditions in London were superb, and I willingly got dragged into the squalor and danger of that period. Being a true Londoner, I recognised most of the place names and areas described in the book, Cornwell brought them to life.
There seemed to be some unnecessary repetition of scenes and dialogue in the latter chapters.. Perhaps the book still needs some final editing.
The author is clearly an avid fan and I assume, a recent student of Shakespeare, evidenced perhaps by his attention to detail plus the interesting minutia about Shakespeare and early theatre.
Unusually, it took me quite a long time to read this book, which is .not a good sign. It seems as though Cornwell's previous literary successes have allowed him to experiment in another unusual genre of book. I found it very difficult to engage with most of the characters who seemed two dimensional As always,. the bad guys are the most interesting and well conceived personalities.
To sum up, from a military historian's perspective, the book was somewhat disappointing, but I am sure it will find an international niche market!

A beautifully written and evocative tale woven around the lives of the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, the company of actors of the Theatre playhouse in Elizabethan London.

The tale is told from the point of view of Richard Shakespeare, younger brother of the more famous William, and the trials and tribulations of the first performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
There’s sibling rivalry, budding romance, royalty, aristocratic patrons, rivalry between the playhouses, and even a bear!

The descriptions of Elizabethan London and the emerging theatres in 1595, when the novel is set, give you a real sense of the city, the period, the sights, sounds and smells, but it really comes alive when describing the plays. Cornwell has really captured the passion and magic, as well as the detail of how the plays were created and performed, and it makes the book a joy to read.

This was a particularly good fit for me, as I love the theatre, London and the Elizabethan era, but it would possibly be even more magical for someone with less knowledge of Shakespeare or Elizabethan theatre.

If you get the chance, read this book then go and see a play at the Globe in London. Pay just £5 to be a ‘groundling’ and you’ll get a sense of the magic and the fun of this type of theatre - very different from a ‘West End’/‘Broadway’ production.

An enjoyable story, written by a history lover, with excellent detail and interesting characters. I have never read any previous books by this author so had no preconceptions. I certainly want to search out his other work now. I found that I became immersed in the period and wanted to find out more. Maybe some people would prefer more action from a Cornwell book, but his storytelling here appealed to me. My kind of book.

I was given this ARC by Netgalley in return for an honest review.

I was sent a copy of Fools and Mortals by Bernard Cornwell to read and review by NetGalley
This is the first Bernard Cornwell book that I have read and it is one of his ‘stand-alone’ novels, not part of a series. The author brings to life the life and times of the Elizabethan age and the blossoming art of the theatre. The story revolves around the younger brother of a very famous playwright, who at the time was just beginning to make a name for himself.
Though the story is nicely written and full of character I did feel that it became rather repetitive at times, mainly through the rehearsal and then performance of the two main plays. That said, I wouldn’t let that put you off reading it as I for one have a far greater understanding of such plays and of the way the theatre began and evolved into what we know today.

I waited a year for the next instalment of Bernard Cornwell’s ‘Last Kingdom’ series about Uhtred of Bebbanburg and the struggle between Alfred the Great’s Saxons and the Scandinavian invaders. The saga is Ten books in and I was expecting this October’s release to be number eleven. He has been releasing a new book once a year, in October and it never occurred to me to check.
I was asked to review Bernard Conwell’s latest book, which I excitedly thought would be the next ‘Uhtred’; It was a book about William Shakespeare putting on a play!
Face drop, heart sink, etc. I started reading in a state of petulance. I knew I wouldn’t enjoy it and that I would be bored silly. How wrong was I?
In Fools and Mortals, Bernard Cornwell depicts the theatre-world of Elizabethan London, using descriptive skills honed on the battlefields of Sharpe, Uhtred, Starbuck and others: closing the book to realise you’re not actually there. Whilst fictional, the author, as he does, immerses the story into real events and gives us a plausible snapshot of the life of Our Bard; it certainly made me think about him in a totally different way.
I would have preferred the next instalment of ‘The Last Kingdom’, but I thoroughly enjoyed this Elizabethan sidestep and, as with all Bernard Cornwell books, I think everyone should read it.

This is quite a departure setting wise for Cornwell but I loved it. And not just because I am a total Shakespeare nerd. Set in Elizabethan era around a troupe of players, this is a fast paced and engrossing read, replete with historical detail but accessible as only Cornwell makes his historical fiction. His love for the bard shines through - you can always tell when an author has had fun writing something. Read in two sittings. Brilliant stuff.

Close to 4 stars.

A story told from the point of view of Richard Shakespeare, brother to playwright William, who is part of a group of players who stage plays at The Theatre.

Richard, our narrator, was very likable as a young man who wants to be taken seriously by his older brother and as a player. The tale is well written, and Cornwell manages to bring 16th century London to life. And yet I did not love this book as much was I wanted to. I definitely enjoyed the second half of the book more than the first. The plot was ok, but it did not quite grab me. I did enjoy the book, but I simply felt that something was missing.

Overall, this is very well researched and crafted book that most historical fiction lovers will enjoy.

Kudos to Cornwell for giving the works of Shakespeare their dues, especially A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He dissects the piece, as if it were the hottest new reality-soap in town. Leaving the historical references and importance of Shakespeare’s work aside for a moment, what remains are emotional roller-coasters for the masses. Shakespeare gives us drama, laughter, tears,violence and death. His plays were live television.

Cornwell is an excellent storyteller. The reader becomes so transfixed by the unfolding drama, and drawn in by the strong characters, that you almost forget everything is taking place in the Elizabethan era.

The story is about William and Richard Shakespeare, and their sibling rivalry. At the same time it is also about the existing rivalries between the various playhouses. An original play or new script is worth its weight in gold. People will pay good money to watch a new play being performed. It’s quite interesting to note how many new scripts playwrights had to come up with in such a short period of time to entertain not only the masses, but also the upper echelon of society, including the queen.

Richard struggles with the fact his brother seems to see him either as a hindrance or a complete failure. He wants acknowledgement of his talent and perhaps even an apology for being handed to the wolves by his brother. At the moment he is always automatically picked to play the role of the pretty woman, because he is known for his striking looks. The kind of appealing physical appearance that tends to be noticed by the wrong people.

I really enjoyed it. I was expecting a story filled with heavy historical references. Instead it is a witty light-hearted entertaining read, which still manages to portray the hardships, the danger, the paranoia and the fear in that particular era, and the way of life in London.

Cornwell combines his talent for historical fiction with his concise knowledge of Shakespeare, which of course makes this a double-treat for bookworms with a penchant for both history and the works of the bard.

This wasn't my usual kind of historical fiction so with that in mind I did struggle to really get inspired by the story, though it is incredibly well researched and clearly Cornwell's writing is distinguished I just struggled personally to connect to the story.

Historical novelist Bernard Cornwell explores the rich backdrop of Elizabethan theatre in his latest novel. Readers who are familiar with Cornwell’s popular Sharpe and The Last Kingdom series may be surprised to find this work set away from battlefields. However, all of author’s dependable trademarks are visible here. The book is well researched, the storyline compelling and interesting characters with competing motivations.

One character compares the art of playwriting and performing to a clock: “We set the scene, we make confusion, we tangle our characters’ lives, we suggest treason or establish enmity, and then we let the weight go, and the whole thing untangles. The pointer moves around the dial. And that, my friend, is the play. The smooth motion of the clock hand, the untangling.”

Indeed. And that, perhaps, is a perfect summary of what Cornwell has achieved here. Cornwell has created a play of his own, tangling up Lord Chamberlain’s players and other characters in this Elizabethan world. The untangling in the final third may unravel a bit to easily, the clock hand may move a bit too smoothly, but this reader was enjoying the story far too much to care. It’s an engaging read. Yet again, Cornwell brings history to life in an accessible and readable tale.

Quite different to Sharpe, Arthur, Last Kingdom and Copperhead series, as no military action, but shares Cornwell's well developed sense of place and idiom, along with interesting character and plot. Quite similar in it's central conceit to the books of Rory Clements, both revolving around a brother of Will Shakespeare, albeit at a different end of the social spectrum.
Overall, thoroughly enjoyable and hopefully will become a series.

Bernard Cornwell is best known for his stories of a hero, usually an outsider, who fights and wins epic battles against all odds, and shapes the future of nations. But every now and then He writes something a bit different. Fools and Mortals is one such book. The central character is Richard Shakespeare brother of Playwright William. He is a minor player in William’s company and there is little love lost between the two brothers. He struggles to survive on what he is paid and is not above a little thievery to supplement his income. The overall story of the book covers the nature and relationships of an Elizabethan Theatre Company, the rivalry between the companies and the dirty tricks, violence and political machinations employed to gain the upper hand. And the rehearsal and performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream.
With its portrayal of the seedier side of life in Elizabethan London, and how the arts were sometimes used as status symbols by the nobility,I found this to be an entertaining book, easy to read with the story flowing nicely.

Fools and mortals is a wonderful Elizabethan tale full of drama and thrills.
Richard the brother of Will Shakespeare is an actor in the theatre company Will writes plays for. The relationship between Richard and Will is extremely strained and for some reason the reader is not made aware why this has occurred.
Will only ever gives his brother small parts, so often without money for food and his lodgings Richard has at times had to resort to thievery.
The players are about to perform a new play A Midsummer Nights Dream for the Lord Chamberlain, whose daughter is to be married, the play is commissioned to be performed on the wedding day.
This is an atmospheric story fully evocative of the age, the smells and sounds of London seem to leap off the pages. Plots abound, Puritans who will stop at nothing to ban any form of entertainment, other new theatres attempting to steal other writers plays and show themselves, so thrills, intrigue, romance and comedy abound just like any Shakespearean play!
An absorbing and entertaining story
My thanks to Net galley and publisher Harper Collins UK for the opportunity to review this book honestly.
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I've been a long term fan of Bernard Cornwell and enjoyed both his books and the dramatisations done for TV. He is an exceptional story teller. Fools and Mortals is, however, a complete departure from his usual offering and may perhaps to some extent disappoint the die hard fan. However, although this story did not contain the usual fights and battles, it was still an entertaining read. Told from William Shakespeare's younger brother Richard's viewpoint it is an interesting insight into Shakespeare's early life, against a backdrop of Elizabethan England - a place where danger and double dealing are the order of the day.. Cornwell's research as always is immaculately done to bring the atmosphere of that time to the reader. I also enjoyed the interaction between the troupe of actors who work alongside William and Richard and what a group they are with different personalities which both help and hinder his ability to put on a production. It's slower paced and (obviously) wrapped around Shakespeare's work - centering on the first production of Midsummer Night's Dream for a wedding. But the lack of action is balanced with an interesting story, humour, well drawn characters and drama off as well as on stage. It will be interesting to see how this book is received and where Bernard Cornwell goes next.