Nicholas Marlow, that runaway turned actor whose adventures as an apprentice to William Shakespeare were chronicled in Antonia Forest's The Player's Boy, returns in this second book, which picks up exactly where that previous volume left off. As Nicholas and the other Lord Chamberlain's players return to London, the young man continues in his friendship with Humphrey Danvers, a page in the service of the Earl of Southhampton. This friendship eventually involves Nicholas in the ill-fated rebellion of Lord Essex, as the sinister spymaster Robin Poley resurfaces, demanding that he inform on his friend. Determined not to betray Humphrey, Nicholas must also try to stay true to country and queen, discovering in the process that loyalty - whether to friend and family, to queen and country, or to God and church - is no simple thing...

Although published as two separate books, because Faber and Faber considered the story too long for child readers, Forest wrote The Player's Boy and The Players and the Rebels as one novel, something that becomes quite clear as the reader begins the second installment. Not only does the action continue on from exactly where it left off in the first volume, but there is also no real difference of tone or feeling, when it comes to the storytelling, or the depiction of the characters. Which is all to the good, in this reader's estimation, as both books are simply marvelous tales - immensely engrossing, emotional involving, ultimately thought-provoking. I read the Girls Gone By reprint edition of this, published in 2008 - the book was first published in 1971 - and I appreciated the introductory matter exploring the historical background and figures depicted in the story. Forest clearly did an amazing amount of research, before writing her tale, and the result is a story that feels both authentic to its historic period, and universally relevant, in its exploration of the human condition. I cam away wishing that Forest had had the time to write more historical work, as she clearly excelled at it. Highly recommended, to anyone who has read and enjoyed the earlier story about Nicholas and his adventures. ( )

http://www.lonelymountain.net/books/sep08.html#foresttpb ( )