Death by Shakespeare was definitely not what I'd expected. I had expected to read another book that simply looked at the relevant plays (in this case all of Shakespeare's works) and analyse them into excruciating detail.

What I quickly figured out when I started this book was that I had managed to find an absolute gem: a very well rounded and perfectly executed explanation and depiction of death in all its forms in Shakespeare's works (and there are many) AND a history lesson with several accounts of real life deaths that occurred at the time and including a relation to how a particular death would be perceived or seen in the 21st century. And if that wasn't enough, the author then goes to explain certain deaths and especially sicknesses in a way that I - a medical simpleton - feel like I now understand some of the procedures of some forms of death and how medicine worked at the time.

This was an absolutely wonderfully rounded book and there is not a single thing that left me with questions or wanting more. I may even go as far as to say that this might be my absolutely favourite secondary literature book that I have ever read (and I am an English major - I've read a lot), and even though I had to put it aside sometimes to put my mind off death and decay, it was an incredibly interesting read. Easy to follow and so well written.

Death By Shakespeare is a fascinating look not just at the science behind the numerous ways the Bard killed his characters, both on and off stage, but also gives a broad and informative introduction into the day to day running of an Elizabethan playhouse, and indeed an overview of what life in that period was like. The historical context gives a much needed background to the specific focus on the various methods of death which the author has broken down into several broad categories including poisons, murders, executions and of course the infamous bear pursuit. For each category she looks at a variety of Shakespeare's plays and discusses not just how specifically the death would have occurred but also how they would have been represented on the stage, often at great risk to the performers. From the practicalities of how to create fake blood that would not destroy valuable costumes to the more academic discussion of which poisons were used to kill which characters, the book fascinates, educates and entertains, Despite the potentially dark subject matter, the deft and at times humorous style of the author keeps things moving along in a fun and easy to understand way.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

This is a wonderful little book about death done the Shakespeare way. Surprisingly this book isn't at all depressing or upsetting, at least I didn't find it so. It is very engaging and the historic and medical information and explanation is extremely interesting and informative. A very entertaining read and one I highly recommend.

First of all, I should say that I'm an English teacher who reads fairly obsessively about Shakespeare. I'm no expert, but I've read a lot and know some of the plays in more depth than I'd really think is healthy! I loved the idea of this book as it promised to combine Shakespeare with the medical realities of the deaths he wrote about.

Although some of the book was familiar ground for me, this would be a fabulous book for someone coming fairly fresh to the topic. It gives a lot of historical context about the Elizabethan and Jacobean worlds and also talks a lot about what Shakespeare's audiences would understand about death and illness. It covers a whole range of the fictional deaths and also relates them to the historical records (as far as can be ascertained from some pretty unreliable sources!) From the cannibalism of 'Titus Andronicus' to the suicide-by-snake of Cleopatra, from the multiple poisonings in 'Hamlet' to the faking of death in 'Romeo and Juliet' - it's all here and packed with interesting detail and speculation. It also delves into some of the less-performed plays which is really fascinating, and explores some work by Shakespeare's contemporaries.

I'd recommend this book to anyone with an interest in Shakespeare, the history of medicine or the Elizabethan/Jacobean period. I honestly thought there wasn't much new that anyone could tell me about 'Hamlet', but I was proved wrong! An engaging and entertaining read!

A worthwhile addition to the library of any Shakespeare fan; or indeed anyone interested in daily Elizabethan life.
Covers at great length the lives and maladies of those souls unfortunately enough to meet their end in Shakespeare’s plays.

Really great book. The chapters are all about a different type of death, and although it sounds bleak, the author's writing is both informative and light, so the book is very accessible despite being both about Shakespeare and science. Some chapters are not for the faint hearted (the one about torture is best read on an empty stomach). There was a lot though about life in Renaissance England, medical knowledge available at the time, and how your body works so whether the way a character is killed on stage is realistic or not. I found it a fascinating read and would definitely recommend. Especially the parts about the plague, very current.