Audiobook Shakespeare's family

The book presents a detailed genealogical investigation into the lineage of William Shakespeare, aiming to dispel the assumption that the poet was of low origin. By examining early public records, guild registers, manorial court rolls, and wills from Warwickshire and beyond, the author reconstructs the history of the Shakespeare and Arden families from the fourteenth century onward. The argument proceeds through a chronological examination of early Shakespeares in various counties, establishing their presence as respectable landowners, farmers, and civic officials, rather than impoverished peasants. A central focus is placed on the family of the poet's mother, Mary Arden of Wilmcote, linking her lineage directly to the ancient Warwickshire family of the Ardens of Park Hall, and by extension to Anglo-Saxon roots.

The work investigates the disputed applications for a coat of arms made by John Shakespeare, defending the heralds' decisions and detailing the social aspirations of the family. Furthermore, the narrative details the real estate transactions surrounding the ancestral property of Asbies, the mortgage difficulties faced by John Shakespeare, and the attempts to recover family lands through the Court of Chancery. Later chapters trace the life and career of William Shakespeare within the context of his family and local history, addressing his marriage to Anne Hathaway, his business affairs in Stratford, and his retirement. The final sections record the history of Shakespeare's descendants, including the lives of his daughters Susanna Hall and Judith Quiney, his granddaughter Elizabeth Barnard, and the eventual extinction of his direct line, followed by a comprehensive review of collateral branches and contemporary namesakes throughout England.