This Christmas discover the greatest writer in the English language as told by actor Dame Judi Dench in SHAKESPEARE The Man Who Pays The Rent :- a witty, insightful journey through the plays and tales of our beloved bard

'Wonderfully inspiring. A delightful spell in the company of one of our greatest actresses' Daily Mail, Books of the Year

'Gloriously entertaining. Reading it feels like a chat with an old friend' Observer

'A magical love letter to Shakespeare' Kenneth Branagh

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For the very first time, Judi Dench opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played in her seven-decade career, from Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra.

Here, she reveals her behind the scenes secrets; inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humour and striking honesty.

This is Judi's love letter to William Shakespeare - the man who pays the rent.

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Praise for The Man Who Pays the Rent

'This book is pure enchantment' Daily Mail

'This is a gloriously entertaining tour through the canon in the company of perhaps the most experienced living Shakespearean actor' Observer

'An utterly delightful book. An unstoppable stream of anecdotes, recollections and asides' Telegraph

'Companionable and compelling, mischievous and convivial - it genuinely feels like you're sitting at her kitchen table with Judi Dench' Guardian

'Gorgeous' Literary Review

'A wonderful mixture of appreciation and anecdote' Financial Times, Books of the Year


Instant Sunday Times bestseller, November 2023

About the Author
Dame Judi Dench is one of the world's most celebrated actresses. She has won numerous major awards for work on both stage and screen - including an Academy Award, ten BAFTAs and a record eight Laurence Olivier Awards. In recognition of her many achievements she received an OBE in 1970, became a DBE in 1988, and in 2005 was awarded a Companion of Honour.

Reviews
Wonderfully inspiring. A delightful spell in the company of one of our greatest and most thoughtful actresses * Daily Mail, Books of the Year *
A magical love letter to Shakespeare * Kenneth Branagh *
A wonderful mixture of appreciation and anecdote * Financial Times, Books of the Year *
It's a mark of Dench's impish genius and O'Hea's deftness that it genuinely feels like you're sitting at her kitchen table with her. It's companionable and compelling - if you love Judi Dench or Shakespeare (and most of us do), look no further * Guardian *
Gorgeous flows of recollection * Literary Review *
An utterly delightful book...there can be few higher pleasures in civilised life than hearing Judi Dench recite the poetry of Shakespeare. What emerges is a wealth of unpretentious horse sense - Shakespeare from a great actor's perspective - that repeatedly strikes to the heart of the matter with a sharp instinctive intelligence that puts fancy-pants literary critics to shame * Telegraph *
This is a gloriously entertaining tour through the canon in the company of perhaps the most experienced living Shakespearean actor; reading it feels like a chat with an old friend. * Observer *
The book is pure enchantment. It swirls and dances with brilliance and mischief, so forget traditional Shakespearean criticism and analysis. Sack the Eng. Lit. professors. As never before, this book brings the subject to wild, authentic life. * Daily Mail *
A wonderful ode to the bard * I *
Riveting, revealing and witty * Gazette and Herald *



Book Information
ISBN 9781405956420
Author Judi Dench
Format Paperback
Page Count 400
Imprint Penguin Books Ltd
Publisher Penguin Books Ltd
Weight(grams) 318g
Dimensions(mm) 198mm * 128mm * 25mm