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The Shakespeare Stealer  By  cover art

The Shakespeare Stealer

By: Gary Blackwood
Narrated by: Stuart Blinder
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Publisher's summary

A delightful adveture full of humor and heart set in Elizabethan England!

Widge is an orphan with a rare talent for shorthand. His fearsome master has just one demand: steal Shakespeare's play "Hamlet" - or else. Widge has no choice but to follow orders, so he works his way into the heart of the Globe Theatre, where Shakespeare's players perform. As full of twists and turns as a London alleyway, this entertaining novel is rich in period details, colorful characters, villainy, and drama.

"A fast-moving historical novel that introduces an important era with casual familiarity." - School Library Journal, starred review

"[Listeners] will find much to like in Widge, and plenty to enjoy in this gleeful romp through olde England" - Kirkus Reviews

"Excels in the lively depictions of Elizabethan stagecraft and street life." - Publishers Weekly

An ALA Notable Book

©1998 Gary Blackwood (P)2018 Listening Library

Critic reviews

"Excels in the lively depictions of Elizabethan stagecraft and street life." (Publishers Weekly)

"A fast-moving historical novel that introduces an important era with casual familiarity." (School Library Journal)

"Readers will find much to like in Widge, and plenty to enjoy in this gleeful romp through olde England" (Kirkus Reviews)

What listeners say about The Shakespeare Stealer

Average customer ratings
Overall
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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Fun time

My children and I really enjoyed this book. It is captivating and full of action

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

love the energy and different tones.

I was afraid of this book because I thought it would be in Elizabethian accent. This is a good way to.get interested in Shakespeare.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars

Wonderful performance by the reader

The reader gave a wonderful performance and kept us engaged. The book was interesting as well.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely FANTASTIC!!!

First - the reader - Stuart Blinder was absolutely astounding! It was like listening to a play! The book was truly amazing! We enjoyed listening to it so, so much! Thank you for such an imaginative adventure!

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Huh

I guess that The Shakespeare stealer by Gary Blackwood was ok.
(Hay look, exactly 15!)

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Good book

Good story Nice ending beginning, middle good reader, good vocabulary Good speed Nice plot line

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • AK
  • 09-28-23

Great Story, Excellent Narration

We read a lot in our homeschool and this was one of the great stories set in Shakespeare’s time. The story line kept us engaged, the vocabulary and writing style was refreshing and the narration- excellent. Highly recommend.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great for Tween Boys

All my kids loved it but great for tween boys that don’t always have good content for their age group!

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  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Interesting plot

A very interesting story line. Lost track of some of the characters at times - the theatre people.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

What fun

Great story and excellent narration. Highly recommend. You get kids will need a glossary but that’s ok

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