'An engaging clever read' The Times A thrilling new novel of conspiracy, intrigue and rapier-sharp wit starring William Shakespeare Venice, 1586. William Shakespeare is disguised as a steward to the English Ambassador. He and his friends Oldcastle and Hemminges possess a deadly secret: the names of the catholic spies in England who seek to destroy Queen Elizabeth. Before long the Pope's agents will begin to close in on them and fleeing the city will be the players' only option. In Verona, Aemelia, the daughter of a Duke, is struggling to conceal her passionate affair with her cousin Valentine. But darker times lie ahead with the arrival of the sinister Father Thornhill who is determined to seek out any who don't conform to the Pope's ruthless agenda . . . Events will converge in the forests around Verona as a multitude of plots are hatched and discovered, players fall in and out of love and disguises are adopted and then discarded. Will Shakespeare and his friends escape with their secrets - and their lives? Bursting with breathless action, swaggering charm and rapier-sharp dialogue, The Assassin of Verona is the gripping new novel from the acclaimed author of The Spy of Venice. Praise for Benet Brandreth "Playful and inventive . . . The dialogue is wonderful, and Will's banter with his fellow actors sparkles." Antonia Senior "Entertaining and ebullient . . . The author knows his Shakespeare backwards (the Venice setting has been carefully chosen), rejoices in its wordplay, loves his allusions and has a good time with his characters. So did I." Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail "A Venetian romp" Telegraph 'Strong, well fleshed-out and colourful characters, a fast-moving and interesting plot and some good set-piece scenes, plus Brandreth's stylish writing, which rejoices in its wordplay and his love of allusions, will keep you guessing to the dramatic, blood-soaked end...a unique and compelling thriller' Crime Review

Classical Rhetoric, the art of persuasion, formed the sum and substance of Shakespeare’s education and was the basis of his understanding of the power of language and how it worked to move, delight and teach. Rhetoric, which seeks to explain the way that language works to influence others, provides a powerful, transformative tool for approaching text in performance. This book helps you understand the key concepts of rhetoric. It gives clear explanations, stripped of jargon, and examples of rhetorical technique in the plays. It also provides engaging, practical exercises to unlock character and to identify themes in the plays through the lens of rhetoric. Academically rigorous, based on more than a decade of practical experience in the use of rhetoric in drama at the highest level, it is an ideal companion for anyone engaging with Shakespeare in performance.

Classical Rhetoric, the art of persuasion, formed the sum and substance of Shakespeare’s education and was the basis of his understanding of the power of language and how it worked to move, delight and teach. Rhetoric, which seeks to explain the way that language works to influence others, provides a powerful, transformative tool for approaching text in performance. This book helps you understand the key concepts of rhetoric. It gives clear explanations, stripped of jargon, and examples of rhetorical technique in the plays. It also provides engaging, practical exercises to unlock character and to identify themes in the plays through the lens of rhetoric. Academically rigorous, based on more than a decade of practical experience in the use of rhetoric in drama at the highest level, it is an ideal companion for anyone engaging with Shakespeare in performance.

CJ Sansom meets Shakespeare in Love - 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 point of their sharpened knives, and lurking in the shadows is a killer as clever as he is cruel. Suspenseful, seductive and as sharp as an assassin's blade, The Spy of Venice introduces a major new literary talent. "The Spy of Venice is a playful and inventive debut. The dialogue is wonderful, and Will's banter with his fellow actors sparkles." Antonia Senior, The Times "Entertaining and ebullient . . . The author knows his Shakespeare backwards (the Venice setting has been carefully chosen), rejoices in its wordplay, loves his allusions and has a good time with his characters. So did I." Elizabeth Buchan, Daily Mail "A Venetian romp" Telegraph