New York Times bestselling author Bernard Cornwell makes a dramatic departure with this enthralling, action-packed standalone novel that tells the story of the first production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream—as related by William Shakespeare’s estranged younger brother.

IN THE HEART OF ELIZABETHAN LONDON, ONE MAN MUST RISK ALL AND PLAY THE PART OF A LIFETIME.

Richard Shakespeare dreams of a glittering career in one of the London playhouses, a world dominated by his older brother, William. But Richard is a penniless actor, making ends meet through a combination of a beautiful face, petty theft, and a silver tongue. As William’s star rises, Richard’s onetime gratitude is souring, and he is sorely tempted to abandon family loyalty.

When a priceless manuscript goes missing, suspicion falls on Richard, forcing him onto a perilous path through a bawdy and frequently brutal London. Entangled in a high-stakes game of duplicity and betrayal that threatens not only his career and potential fortune but also the lives of his fellow players, Richard has to call on all he has learned from the brightest stages and the darkest alleyways of the city.