The
Quest for Shakespeare
The Bard of Avon and the Church of Rome
Author: Joseph Pearce
Highly
regarded and best-selling literary writer and teacher, Joseph Pearce presents
a stimulating and vivid biography of the world’s most revered writer that
is sure to be controversial. Unabashedly provocative, with scholarship, insight
and keen observation, Pearce strives to separate historical fact from fiction
about the beloved Bard.
Shakespeare is not only one of the greatest figures in human history, he is
also one of the most controversial and one of the most elusive. He is famous
and yet almost unknown. Who was he? What were his beliefs? Can we really understand
his plays and his poetry if we don’t know the man who wrote them?
These
are some of the questions that are asked and answered in this gripping and engaging
study of the world’s greatest ever poet. The Quest for Shakespeare claims
that books about the Bard have got him totally wrong. They misread the man and
misread the work. The true Shakespeare has eluded the grasp of the critics.
Dealing with the facts of Shakespeare’s life and times, Pearce's quest
leads to the inescapable conclusion that Shakespeare was a believing Catholic
living in very anti-Catholic times.
Many of his friends and family were persecuted, and even executed, for their
Catholic faith. And yet he seems to have avoided any notable persecution himself.
How did he do this? How did he respond to the persecution of his friends and
family? What did he say about the dreadful and intolerant times in which he
found himself? The Quest for Shakespeare answers these questions in ways that
will enlighten and astonish those who love Shakespeare’s work, and that
will shock and outrage many of his critics. This book is full of surprises for
beginner and expert alike.
“Joseph Pearce writes piercingly brilliant books. This is one of them.
He usually writes dramatic biographies. This is not one of them. It is not a
biography and it is the least dramatic book he has written. But it is also the
most important one. To see its importance, try the following thought-experiment.
Imagine a book that convincingly proved that Homer was a Jew, or that Milton
was a lapsed Catholic, or that Dante was a proto-Protestant. The idea would
have far-ranging consequences. It would cast a new light on everything we knew
about Homer, or Milton, or Dante. In his next book Pearce will trace the consequences
of Shakespeare’s Catholicism in his plays. In this book, he proves it
historically. I mean proves it. (Pearce would make a formidable lawyer.) The
evidence is simply overwhelming.”
— Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., Boston College, Author, Summa of the Summa
“I’ve
long suspected that there was a deep Catholic sensibility in the plays of Shakespeare
— an emphasis on man’s powerlessness without grace, yet also an
openness to the sacramentality of nature, and to the energetic work of dutiful
yet often mistrusted or despised servants. Pearce shows that Shakespeare himself
was such a dutiful servant, ever dutiful to the Queen, but to God first. He
does not leap to conclusions, but builds a case that is meticulous, reasonable,
and convincing.”
— Anthony Esolen, Ph.D., Providence College Professor of Renaissance English
“Joseph Pearce has brought together here a mass of material on the vexed
question as to Shakespeare’s religious affiliation — a question
which scholars have traditionally tried sedulously to ignore. But it is a question
of more than merely neutral historic curiosity. Readers, I feel sure, will be
quickly drawn in to the matter. Once again, we owe Mr. Pearce a great debt.”
— Thomas Howard, Ph.D. Author, Dove Descending: T. S. Eliot’s Four
Quartets
“What
more is there to be said about William Shakespeare? Yet the supply of books
on the great dramatist is never ending. Now, however, there is a new reason
for this supply. The religion of Shakespeare, and specifically his Catholicism,
is now recognized as a ‘hot topic’ both in the academic and the
publishing world. And now Joseph Pearce, long recognized as a brilliant writer
on great English Catholics, has gone back in The Quest for Shakespeare to this
greatest of English Catholics, showing precisely how his greatness consists
in his hidden Catholicism. This is a book that bodes well to proving a literary
masterpiece.”
— Peter Milward, S.J. Author, Shakespeare the Papist
“Pearce
writes with historical insight on one hand and poetic imagination on the other.
Perhaps our greatest living biographer, Pearce has the uncanny ability to get
into the minds, hopes, fears, and motivations of his subjects.”
— Bradley J. Birzer, Ph.D. Author, J. R. R. Tolkien’s Sanctifying
Myth
“Practicing
the best virtues of detective, lawyer, scholar, and storyteller, Joseph Pearce
convincingly reconstructs the historical crucible which produced the world’s
greatest poet. His explication of how Shakespeare was shaped by realities of
personal courage, political danger, and eternal sacramental love will unshutter
long obscured lamps within the plays and poems for every reader.”
— Gene Fendt, Ph.D., University of Nebraska, Author, Is Hamlet a Christian
Drama?
Clare
Asquith’s Shadowplay (2005) argued from cryptic literary evidence that
Shakespeare was a Catholic, necessarily clandestine during his era, when to
be so entailed huge fines, arrest, and even execution. Eschewing Asquith’s
method (merely pointing out a pun in the occasional sonnet), Pearce also concludes
that Shakespeare was a Catholic and, indeed, that one must be prejudiced to
insist otherwise. The evidence he cites shows that John Shakespeare’s
will was based on a Catholic model; that John and son William each left bequests
and executorship to Catholics; that Shakespeare’s daughters were named
out of the Apocrypha (biblical writings by Catholic, but not Protestant, lights);
that Shakespeare bought property that benefited Catholics, including a longtime
venue for clandestine masses; that he was married by a Catholic priest miles
away from his home parish; and so on and so on. Pearce also argues that Shakespeare’s
talent may have led the authorities to wink at his Catholicism, as they did
with the gifted composer William Byrd. It helps Pearce that, as usual, he’s
a delight to read.
—Ray Olson, From Booklist
ISBN:
9781586172244
Author: Joseph Pearce
More by this author...
Length: 275 pages
Edition: Hardcover
Preview:
Code: QS-H
Price:: $21.95
ORDER HERE - ORDER INFORMATION
Best DVDs on Padre Pio and Sr. Faustina:
3 Documentary Films in each DVD
Other Documentary Videos on
St. Faustina, Padre Pio and Objective Report on Alleged Apparitions at Medjugorje
St. Pio of Pietrelcina and St. Faustina
Pious
Publications
"Seeing Is Believing" Video DVD Library as shown on EWTN
From San Giovanni to Heaven - Documentary Film on Canonization of Padre Pio - St. Pio
The Beatification of Padre Pio
The Life of Sister Faustina - The Apostle of Divine Mercy
Spanish Edition - La Historia De Sor Faustina
A Celebration of Padre Pio - Pray, Hope, and Don't Worry
Spanish Edition - Homenaje Al Padre Pio
Padre Pio - At The Gates of Heaven
Medjugorje - The Miracles and The Message
Sister Faustina - The Promise of Mercy
The Beatification of Sister Faustina - Join the Celebration
Padre Pio's San Giovanni - "I Can Refuse No One"
HLI Pro-Life Material - Pro-life Books, Audio CD and Prolife Catholic DVD Videos