Mr Shakespeare's Whore

Aemilia Bassano strives for recognition in a male-dominated society, encountering Shakespeare and others in a tale of ambition, love, and betrayal in Mr Shakespeare's Whore.

In Mr Shakespeare's Whore, Aemilia Bassano navigates the complexities of Elizabethan society as the daughter of an Italian musician. Her aspirations to rise within the aristocracy and break into the male-dominated realms of poetry and music set the stage for a captivating tale. Aemilia's passion for the theatre leads her to cross paths with the legendary William Shakespeare, igniting a series of events that intertwine her fate with some of the most influential figures of her time.

As Aemilia becomes embroiled in a web of intrigue, she encounters a host of characters, including the Earl of Southampton, who is both a patron and a libertine, and the enigmatic magician Simon Forman. The charismatic Earl of Essex and the talented musician Alfonso Lanier also play significant roles in her journey, each contributing to a landscape filled with jealousy, rivalry, and deception. The dynamics of these relationships reveal the challenges Aemilia faces as she seeks to carve out her own identity in a world that often seeks to confine her.

Ultimately, Mr Shakespeare's Whore culminates in the publication of an unconventional book of poems, a bold act that challenges societal norms and cements Aemilia's place in history. This richly woven narrative explores themes of ambition, love, and the struggle for artistic recognition in a time when women's voices were often silenced.