Finding Shakespeare's New Place: An archaeological biography / Paul Edmondson, Kevin Colls, William Mitchell

Unique report on the major archaeological dig at Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon home and the implications for the Shakespearian biography. -- . This ground-breaking book provides an abundance of fresh insights into Shakespeare's life in relation to his lost family home, New Place. The findings of a major archaeological excavation encourage us to think again about what New Place meant to Shakespeare and, in so doing, challenge some of the long-held assumptions of Shakespearian biography. New Place was the largest house in the borough and the only one with a courtyard. Shakespeare was only ever an intermittent lodger in London. His impressive home gave Shakespeare significant social status and was crucial to his relationship with Stratford-upon-Avon. Archaeology helps to inform biography in this innovative and refreshing study which presents an overview of the site from prehistoric times through to a richly nuanced reconstruction of New Place when Shakespeare and his family lived there, and beyond. This attractively illustrated book is for anyone with a passion for archaeology or Shakespeare. -- Amazon.com Front matter Contents List of figures List of plates Foreword Acknowledgements Note on the text Introduction: finding Shakespeare’s New Place Ancient beginnings: the site of New Place from the prehistoric to the early medieval period The origins of New Place: Hugh Clopton’s ‘grete house’ of c. 1483 Shakespeare and Stratford-upon-Avon, 1564–96 Shakespeare and New Place, 1597–1616, and later occupants to 1677 A reconstruction of Shakespeare’s New Place After Shakespeare: New Place, 1677–1759 The archaeologies of New Place Closing remarks Glossary of archaeological and architectural terms The Dig for Shakespeare Academic Advisory Board archaeologists and volunteers Index Plates Paul Edmondson, Kevin Colls And William Mitchell.