As Long As Men Can Breathe The Untold Story of Shakepeare's Sonnets

Randy Kadish · Sun Jan 03, 2010 11:36 am

I would describe Mr. Heylin’s book as more than just a well-researched history of Shakespeare’s sonnets and of theories about how and why they were published. One of Mr. Heylin’s key premises is that the bootlegging of manuscripts in Elizabethan times, like the bootlegging of rock music, was common. He then argues convincingly, in my opinion, that the sonnets were not authorized, and may have even been suppressed after publication by friends of Shakespeare. (The sonnets almost certainly caused a scandal.)

Also, Mr. Heylin makes the case that William Herbert was probably the so-called “Fair Youth” of the sonnets.

Mr. Heylin paints a vivid picture of the world of copywriting - if we can call it that - and of book publishing in Shakespeare’s time. The author then takes us on an historical journey about the republication of the sonnets, and about how they were forgotten for almost two hundred years until they were rediscovered, finally, by the Romantic poets.

Finally, Mr. Heylin puts forth a theory about who many have given Thorpe a manuscript copy of the sonnets. While I think the theory is a bit of a stretch, it does provide interesting historical information on Elizabethan literary life.

So Long As Man Can Breath is, for the most part, easy reading, almost as easy as a good detective novel. That is partly because the book has little critical analysis of the sonnets. (There is so much analysis elsewhere that readers shouldn’t be disappointed.) I would, however, have liked to have read a lot more about who Mr. Heylin thinks the Dark Lady might have been.

Then again, so many of our questions about Shakespeare’s sonnets will never be answered, but Mr. Heylin’s fair and balanced book brings us much closer to the truth.

oblivion · Sun Jan 03, 2010 2:05 pm

It sounds very interesting, Randy. I'll have to pick it up. Have you read Bryson's Shakespeare: a Biography? Or rather an anti-biography, as there is so little on the man. Bryson does a very entertaining job, though, presenting a type of literary lost-wax mold, filling out the picture around the person of Shakespeare, that it is truly engrossing.

DWill · Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:13 pm

Yes, the book on the sonnets does sound interesting. Have either of you ever given any thought to the so-called identity controversy? I have to admit, when I read a book (whose name I've forgotten) contending that Shakespeare didn't write the plays, it had me going, and I'm not usually given to "conspiracy-type" theories. I recall that in college the professor, when asked about the identity thing, dismissed it as motivated by scholarly jealousy. The book at least persuaded me that the doubts have deeper reasons than that.

oblivion · Wed Jan 06, 2010 3:14 am

Believe it or not, I actually had a course on "Who Was Shakespeare Really" in my undergrad years at college (taught by a professor who always appeared in class in nice slacks, jacket and tie, but never a shirt). I think we went through the whole spectrum. Highly interesting. This was followed by a course on why Shakepseare could only be himself. I think, at least what I've been keeping up on, the fronts are still at odds with each other and there is not really any conclusive evidence in either direction. I go for the theory, (cough, cough) that whoever wrote the plays and sonnets, hats off to him/her. Doesn't really matter. They are indeed some of the most beautiful works in the world. And much of the vocabulary we use today in modern English appeared first in works of Shakespeare.

DWill · Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:57 am

No, it doesn't really matter to the average person, to whatever degree the average person still cares about Shakespeare. To criticism it would make a difference, though. I think a different take on who the author was would have to influence the approach of critics to the work.

I'm still trying to picture the look. Was the chest hairy or smooth? Ah, academic freedom!

oblivion · Wed Jan 06, 2010 11:51 am


	DWill wrote: I'm still trying to picture the look. Was the chest hairy or smooth? Ah, academic freedom!

He, he. Not very appetizing, I remember. His reason for so doing was that they were required to wear a coat and tie to class and he thought coming without the shirt would be preferable to coming without the trousers.

Randy Kadish · Sat Feb 27, 2010 1:48 pm

The real evidence is overwheliming: Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare. Don't let anyone fool you.

Randy

oblivion · Sat Feb 27, 2010 3:19 pm

For a highly clever, fun ride through literature, especially Bronte's Jane Eyre and Shakespeare and "who wrote the plays", you might want to read Jasper Fforde's "The Eyre Affair".

Randy Kadish · Mon Mar 01, 2010 10:59 am

Shakespeare wrote the plays, I have no doubt, and so do all legitimate scholars.

I am looking forward to reading this:

http://www.amazon.com/Contested-Will-Wh ... _rhf_p_t_1

Randy

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