Ivor Brown's book on Shakespeare is dedicated to the Players. But it is not a dramatic critic's chronicle of Shakespearean performances. It describes Shakespeare's life in terms of his origin, ambitions, achievements, and workshop as well as of his genius. In short, it is a survey of Shakespeare, the boy, the man, the husband, the poet, the lover, the investor, "sweet Mr. Shakespeare" to the students, "our friend and fellow Shakespeare" to the actors, the owner of New Place and sundry acres to the people of Stratford.