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The Spy of Venice

A William Shakespeare Novel

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The Spy of Venice

By: Benet Brandreth
Narrated by: Luke Lampard
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About this listen

Suspenseful, seductive and as sharp as an assassin's blade - a historical thriller with a swashbuckling twist and a hero like you've never seen him before.

When he's caught out by one ill-advised seduction too many, young William Shakespeare flees Stratford to seek his fortune. Cast adrift in London, Will falls in with a band of players - but greater men have their eye on this talented young wordsmith. England's very survival hangs in the balance, and Will finds himself dispatched to Venice on a crucial embassy. Dazzled by the city's masques - and its beauties - Will little realises the peril in which he finds himself. Catholic assassins would stop at nothing to end his mission on the points of their sharpened knives, and lurking in the shadows is a killer as clever as he is cruel.

©2016 Benet Brandreth (P)2017 Bolinda Publishing Pty Ltd. Historical Fiction England Fiction

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Critic reviews

"The Spy of Venice is a playful and inventive debut. The dialogue is wonderful, and Will's banter with his fellow actors sparkles." (The Times)
"Entertaining and ebullient.... The author knows his Shakespeare backwards, rejoices in its wordplay, loves his allusions and has a good time with his characters." (The Daily Mail)
"A Venetian romp that takes Shakespeare as its lusty hero." (The Daily Telegraph)
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If you like a little bit of history, excitement and the romance of the old world I could not recommend this book more!

Very enjoyable!

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I enjoyed this book but found the narration rather one-note and lifeless. It was hard to separate characters or indeed drum up much emotion either way with such a flat telling.

Let down by a bland narration

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