Shakespeare for Squirrels A Novel
Shakespeare for Squirrels by Christopher Moore is a first edition novel published by HarperCollins Publishers in 2020. This 271-page book presents a humorous and fantastical murder mystery that intertwines elements of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream with a hardboiled narrative style reminiscent of Dashiell Hammett. The story follows Pocket, a fool washed ashore in Greece, who becomes embroiled in a conflict involving the Duke and his daughter’s marriage dilemma, leading to a death sentence for his outspoken nature.
Readers will find a richly woven tale filled with intrigue, magic, and comedic elements as Pocket navigates a world of fairy kings and suspects. The narrative explores themes of love and madness while Pocket attempts to uncover the truth behind the murder of Robin Goodfellow, the Duke’s jester. With a cast of characters each harboring their own motives, the story promises a blend of mystery and humor, making it a unique addition to the genres of fantasy and historical fiction.
Official synopsis Publisher
New York Times Bestseller!
Shakespeare meets Dashiell Hammett in this wildly entertaining murder mystery from New York Times bestselling author Christopher Moore–an uproarious, hardboiled take on the Bard’s most performed play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, featuring Pocket, the hero of Fool and The Serpent of Venice, along with his sidekick, Drool, and pet monkey, Jeff.
Set adrift by his pirate crew, Pocket of Dog Snogging–last seen in The Serpent of Venice–washes up on the sun-bleached shores of Greece, where he hopes to dazzle the Duke with his comedic brilliance and become his trusted fool.
But the island is in turmoil. Egeus, the Duke’s minister, is furious that his daughter Hermia is determined to marry Demetrius, instead of Lysander, the man he has chosen for her. The Duke decrees that if, by the time of the wedding, Hermia still refuses to marry Lysander, she shall be executed . . . or consigned to a nunnery. Pocket, being Pocket, cannot help but point out that this decree is complete bollocks, and that the Duke is an egregious weasel for having even suggested it. Irritated by the fool’s impudence, the Duke orders his death. With the Duke’s guards in pursuit, Pocket makes a daring escape.
He soon stumbles into the wooded realm of the fairy king Oberon, who, as luck would have it, IS short a fool. His jester Robin Goodfellow–the mischievous sprite better known as Puck–was found dead. Murdered. Oberon makes Pocket an offer he can’t refuse: he will make Pocket his fool and have his death sentence lifted if Pocket finds out who killed Robin Goodfellow. But as anyone who is even vaguely aware of the Bard’s most performed play ever will know, nearly every character has a motive for wanting the mischievous sprite dead.
With too many suspects and too little time, Pocket must work his own kind of magic to find the truth, save his neck, and ensure that all ends well.
A rollicking tale of love, magic, madness, and murder, Shakespeare for Squirrels is a Midsummer Night’s noir–a wicked and brilliantly funny good time conjured by the singular imagination of Christopher Moore.
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