Shakespeare and the Truth of Love: The Mystery of 'The Phoenix and Turtle' (Palgrave Shakespeare Studies)
"Bednarz provides a detailed examination of allegorical and metaphysical readings of Shakespeare's rarely taught 67-line poem. . . . Presenting a history of how the poem has been read as political allegory, the author convincingly argues that allegorical readings have sometimes been implausible and often overcomplicate the poem. He offers useful strategies for reading the poem, pointing out in particular that the poem does not have to be read as an encoded political allegory. . . . Highly recommended." - F. L. Den, Choice "Shakespeare and the Truth of Love renders a great poem more intriguing and provocative than ever." - Hazel Wilkinson, TLSA "learned and illuminating discussion of this poem."  -Richard C. McCoy, Faith in ShakespeareWinner of the 2014 Krasnoff Memorial Award for Excellence in Scholarship"'The Phoenix and Turtle' . . . is a stunningly beautiful, very lyrical and at the same time puzzling poem. Having become a favourite in literary seminars in recent decades, it was due time for a book like this, which provides its readers with an excellent overview of the widely scattered scholarly findings published on the issue so far." - Carina Sulzer, "Marlowe Society Newsletter""Shakespeare's most elusive, compelling, deceptively limpid work has at last found its critic. In this eloquent account, attentive to history, but above all to poetry, James Bednarz involves his readers as fellow explorers in a journey towards the heart of the poem's mystery."- Catherine Belsey, Swansea University, UK"Once in a very long while you come across a book that utterly transforms your understanding of Shakespeare. This is one of those books. Shakespeare and the Truth of Love is brilliant, elegantly argued, and persuasive."- James Shapiro, author of 1599 and Contested Will