Wicked Company

By Ciji Ware

Book Overview

All of life's a wicked stage and love a dangerous drama... "A fascinating portrayal of London's theatrical milieu...Ware again proves she can intertwine fact and fiction to create an entertaining and harmonious whole." -Publishers Weekly If Shakespeare had a sister... In 18th century London the glamorous Drury Lane and Covent Garden theatres were all the rage, beckoning every young actor, actress, playwright, and performer with the lure of the stage lights. But competition and back-biting between theatre owners, patrons, actors, and writers left aspiring playwrights with their work stolen, profits withheld, and reputations on the line. For a female, things were harder still, as the chances of a "petticoat playwright" getting past the government censor was slim. In this exciting and cutthroat world, a young woman with a skill for writing and an ambition to see her work performed could rise to glory, or could lose all in the blink of an eye... In Ciji Ware's signature style, real-life characters of the day create a backdrop for a portrait of a glittering era, a love story, and a compelling glimpse into what life was like for a strong and independent-minded woman in an emphatically man's world. "A historical novel so lively and intriguing, you don't realize you've learnt anything till after you close the book. Exciting, entertaining, and enlightening." -Literary Times

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1402222718
• ISBN13: 9781402222719
• Release Date: October 2010
• Publisher: Sourcebooks Landmark
• Length: 609 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.4" x 5.3" x 7.8"

Customer Reviews

Excellent depiction of 18th century English Theater!

The author's meticulous research into 18th century English theater is astounding . We follow fictional as well as historical figures which are blended into the main themes of plagiarism, rivalries between Covent Garden and Drury Lane and difficulty of women playwrights to bring their work to the stage. David Garrick, a famous actor, orator and manager of Drury Lane at that time is given a lot of space throughout the book. Also, to hold one's interest there is a great love story between Sophie and Hunter to bind all of these threads together.

A must read romance

I don't usually read "romance novels", but this is a must read! The characters are so vivid you really care about them and they just jump off the page. My best advice is to FIND THIS BOOK somewhere--it's worth the work.