This book presents a compact version of Hank Whittemore's groundbreaking reference work The Monument (2005) for the general reader, emphasizing the dramatic story of the Sonnets preserved for "eyes not yet created" in posterity. The Living Record is a riveting tale of three of the most misunderstood and mysterious figures in literature: the Poet, the Fair Youth, and the Dark Lady. By placing the stencil of history over the Sonnets and seeing the design, structure, and genius of a masterwork, the true autobiographical story comes to life with all the details of betrayal, succession, and unrelenting love. Be prepared to be amazed.Now the original sequence of the Sonnets is seen clearly as a carefully arranged chronicle of contemporary history leading to the royal succession of Elizabeth I of England. Whittemore demonstrates that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, compiled "the living record" of Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, his unacknowledged royal son by the complicated female monarch he had both loved and hated.. The chronicle appears within a "monument" of verse, organized in the form of a diary leading to the death of Elizabeth and the succession of King James of Scotland as King James I of England, bringing the long Tudor dynasty to its end.Whittemore shows how this masterwork contains a "century" of 100 central sonnets. When the stencil of history is placed over the numbered sonnets, they reveal the true story preserved for posterity. The hundred sonnets at the center begin with the failed Essex Rebellion of 1601, when the earls of Essex and Southampton were placed in the Tower of London as traitors. The 100-sonnet center covers the treason trial, when both were condemned to death, followed the by execution of Essex and the bargain for sparing Southampton's life, which involved the posthumous obliteration of Oxford's identity. In other words, here is what eventually led to the mystery of the Shakespearean authorship. "The Living Record" shows that the powerful Secretary Robert Cecil, who had taken control of the government, held Southampton hostage in the Tower until the Queen's death and the succession of James; and that the winners of this political struggle went on to write the false history."Whittemore presents his argument in an elegant yet understated manner ... The result is not only highly readable and accessible, but also increasingly compelling ... An impressively argued and engaging work, allowing the sonnets to be perceived from a thought-provoking, alternative perspective ... An astute and eloquent reconsideration of Shakespeare's Sonnets that unearths political meaning in love poems." - Kirkus Reviews on The Living Record, “Hank Whittemore’s groundbreaking study of Shakespeare’s sonnets puts forth his discovery that beneath the surface romantic quality, all of them have hidden meaningful content.” – Felicia Hardison Londré, Curators’ Professor of Theatre, University of Missouri-Kansas City, on the discovery underlying both The Monument and The Living Record.“This is a giant leap of recognition by Whittemore, allowing Shakespeare’s autobiographical testimony to emerge.” – Professor Daniel Wright, director, Shakespeare Authorship Research Centre, Concordia University, Portland, Oregon, on The Monument.Edward de Vere had adopted "William Shakespeare" in 1593 to support Southampton's succession to the throne, especially with the Shakespearean plays of royal history that emphasize the qualities needed by any monarch entrusted with England's future. The false history, written by the winners, has prevented us from seeing "the living record" of Southampton in the Sonnets printed in 1609, five years after Oxford's death. Now the poems are placed within a context of genuine biography and history, allowing their true meaning to appear with all the power of sudden recognition.
✔ Author(s): Hank Whittemore
✔ Title: The Living Record: Shakespeare, Succession, and the Sonnets
✔ Rating : 5 out of 5 base on (29 reviews)
✔ ISBN-10: 1737383241
✔ ISBN-13: 9781737383246
✔ Language: English
✔ Format ebook: PDF, EPUB, Kindle, Audio, HTML and MOBI
✔ Device compatibles: Android, iOS, PC and Amazon Kindle
Readers' opinions about The Living Record by Hank Whittemore
Beata Shepard
What a rollercoaster of emotions! I laughed, cried, and everything in between. The author's ability to evoke such raw feelings is truly commendable. It's a story that will stay with me forever.
Sarah Franklin
The way the author handled complex emotions and relationships was remarkable. I felt deeply connected to the characters, and their growth throughout the story was both inspiring and moving.
Daphne Garner
The rich historical context of the book added a layer of depth that I found fascinating. It was like stepping back in time and experiencing history firsthand.
