The year 1599, in Elizabeth I’s England, was not an easy one; it coincided with the sending of an army to crush the rebellion of the Catholic Tyrone in Ireland. They faced the threat of a new naval attack from Spain, the so-called “Invisible Armada”, which never arrived, years after the failure of the Invincible Armada.
A new idea of colonialism emerged with the East India Company, and turbulent times continued, with a queen who was getting older and had no direct heir. It should also be noted that the establishment of the Reformation was still recent, and there remained Catholic enclaves with the idea of placing a Catholic king on the throne.
Meanwhile, London theatres were full, and theatre companies competed to offer the best performances. Playwrights competed to write their finest works.
Shakespeare, co-owner of The Globe, premiered Henry V that year, wrote Julius Caesar and As You Like It, and, if that were not enough, began the draft of Hamlet. A decisive year for Shakespeare, one that had a great influence on the life and writings of the poet and playwright.
The book is fascinating, but not easy to read due to the large amount of data it provides and the number of characters included in a very complex historical moment.