"...and all other London playhouses, with the exception of the Globe, relied on other entertainments, particularly animal baiting, to fortify their earnings. The pastime was not unique to England, but it was regarded as an English specialty. Queen Elizabeth often had visitors from abroad entertained with bearbaiting at Whitehall. In its classic form, a bear was put in a ring, sometimes tethered to a stake, and set upon by mastiffs, but bears were expensive investments, so other animals (such as bulls and horses) were commonly substituted. One variation was to put a chimpanzee on the back of a horse and let the dogs go for both together. The sight of a screeching ape clinging for dear life to a bucking horse while dogs leaped at it from below was considered about as rich an amusement as public life could offer."
Whatever the case, this slim volume introduces what we know and don't know about Shakespeare. As it turns out we don't know much, but nevertheless what we don't know is enough to take up 196 pages. This approach to Shakespeare's life is something of a cop-out, but it's consistently engaging and never overstays its welcome.
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