Shakespeare of London

Marchette Chute's magnificent and unique account of Shakespeare's life and times, based solely on contemporary documents, emphasizes Shakespeare's life as a working member of the London theatre – as an actor, a director, a producer, a playwright and theatre owner. But of almost equal importance in this great book is the city of London itself – that brilliant, lively, creative city in which Shakespeare's art was rooted and through which it flourished. As John Mason Brown has said, "… I will tell you the truth. I have never read a book which gave so vivid a picture of the times, the theatre companies, the outstanding personalities, or the background of Shakespeare's own life."

"If I were to recommend one book on Shakespeare, his life, his England, to the average student or layman, this would be the one."
- George Freedley, The Library Journal