Audiobook Drake, Nathan Shakspeare and His Times [Vol. 2 of 2]

This volume opens with a detailed biographical sketch of Thomas Wriothesly, Earl of Southampton, tracing his lineage, education at Cambridge and Gray's Inn, and his passionate attachment to the stage. Nathan Drake examines the profound influence of the Earl's patronage upon Shakespeare, whose dedications to Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece express a deep debt of gratitude and affection. The narrative follows Southampton through his involvement in the political intrigues and military expeditions of the late sixteenth century, culminating in his participation in the rebellion of the Earl of Essex and his subsequent imprisonment in the Tower until the accession of James the First.

A significant portion of the work is devoted to a critical evaluation of Shakespeare's miscellaneous poetry. The author analyzes Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, comparing their metrical structure, imagery, and moral tone with classical prototypes and contemporary verse. While acknowledging certain prolixities and conceits characteristic of the age, Drake defends the poems against contemporary censure and later depreciation, highlighting their occasional flights of sublime description, vigour of versification, and profound insight into human passion.

The volume investigates the long-standing controversy surrounding the Shakspeare Sonnets, examining their chronology, the identity of their mysterious addressee, and the various theories proposed by early editors and commentators. Drake argues convincingly that the greater part of the sonnets, from the first to the hundred and twenty-sixth, are addressed to Lord Southampton, interpreting them as expressions of ardent friendship and intellectual admiration rather than illicit passion. He addresses the difficulties arising from juvenile epithets and conflicting periods of composition, illustrating his arguments with extensive quotations from the sonnets themselves.

In addition to literary criticism, the work presents a comprehensive survey of the dress, modes of living, manners, and customs of the inhabitants of London during the age of Shakespeare. Drawing upon contemporary authorities such as Harrison, Hentzner, and Stubbes, Drake details the extravagant fashions in personal adornment, the magnificence of household furniture and decoration, the elaborate ceremonies of the dining-table, and the prevalence of tavern life and tobacco-taking.

The concluding sections contrast the personal characters and reigns of Elizabeth and James, examining the politics, police regulations, and social vices of the period, including gaming, duelling, and excessive compliment. Throughout the volume, the author combines meticulous historical research with enthusiastic literary appreciation, providing an invaluable record of the environment that shaped the genius of the greatest English dramatist.