Henry is an orphan, a thief and a genius. Raised by a powerful witch, Henry is a master pickpocket and spends much of his time reading at the magical apothecary. But Henry's extraordinary gifts haven't gone unnoticed and when caught stealing, he's forced to work for an influential duke and his secret society of intellectuals.

Working hard to fulfil the duke's relentless pursuit for knowledge, Henry finds solace and a friend in his idol, the young playwright, William Shakespeare. But it's his mother Henry longs for most. The Dark Lady is calling - will Henry be able to resist?

Featuring Shakespeare himself and many of his key characters, bringing to life through fresh eyes the visceral, violent and daring world of the Renaissance. Inspired by the Dark Lady, the black woman at the centre of Shakespeare's sonnets 127-154. Written by award-winning rapper, poet and writer Akala, founder of the renowned Hip-hop Shakespeare Company.

Children's Fiction & true stories Adventure storiesChildren's Fiction & true stories Classic fictionChildren's General non-fiction History general interestChildren's Poetry, anthologies, annuals Poetry Publisher: Hachette Children's Group Publication Date: 12/11/2020 ISBN-13: 9781444942972 Details: Type: Paperback Format: Books

Availability: Pre-order for despatch on publication. Pre-Order

Raised in London, Akala is a BAFTA / MOBO award-winning hip hop artist, writer and social entrepreneur. In 2009, he co-founded The Hip-Hop Shakespeare Company, a music theatre production company that explores the social, cultural and linguistic parallels between William Shakespeare's works and that of modern day rappers. He has led many hip-hop Shakespeare youth arts, education and music projects across Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Appearing on TV networks globally, he has gained a reputation as one of the most dynamic and articulate talents in the UK, notably with his bestselling memoir Natives, released in 2019.

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