Synopses & Reviews
With 165 color images, this stunning visual companion to
Anonymous captures the striking recreation of the Elizabethan period that imagines Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, as the true author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare. The brilliant work of the talented filmmakers is celebrated in this book that features:
- a fascinating introduction by director Roland Emmerich (10,000 BC, 2012, The Day After Tomorrow, The Patriot, Independence Day)
- an essay by screenwriter John Orloff (Band of Brothers, Legends of the Guardians, A Mighty Heart)
- essays on the Shakespeare authorship question by Mark Twain and by Charles Beauclerk (author of Shakespeares Lost Kingdom)
- illustrated script excerpts, sidebars on historical references, concept drawings, and production illustrations
- commentaries from the cast and crew on the films production, costume design, cinematography, and visual effects
- an extensive bibliography
Here is a riveting portrayal of the complex world of Shakespeares times, when scandalous political intrigue, illicit romances in the royal court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.
Synopsis
Set in the political snake-pit of Elizabethan England, Roland Emmerich’s new film Anonymous speculates on an issue that has for centuries intrigued academics and brilliant minds, namely: who was the author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare?Experts have debated, books have been written, and scholars have devoted their lives to protecting or debunking theories surrounding the authorship of the most renowned works in English literature. Anonymous poses one possible answer—that Edward de Vere, Earl of Oxford wrote the plays—focusing on a time when cloak-and-dagger political intrigue, illicit romances in the Royal Court, and the schemes of greedy nobles hungry for the power of the throne were exposed in the most unlikely of places: the London stage.
The Columbia Pictures film, directed by by Roland Emmerich, stars Rhys Ifans, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson, David Thewlis, Xavier Samuel, Sebastian Armesto, Rafe Spall, Ed Hogg, Jamie Campbell Bower, with Mark Rylance and Derek Jacobi.
With more than 120 color images, this Newmarket Pictorial Moviebook is a large format, visual companion book to the film with movie stills of this striking portrayal of the Elizabethan period, and with sidebars on historical references and characters. Features an introduction by the director Roland Emmerich, an essay by screenwriter John Orloff, additional pieces by Charles Beauclerk and Mark Twain addressing whether Shakespeare actually wrote the acclaimed plays, along with detailed comments by the filmmakers and actors on how this remarkable film was created.
Synopsis
One of two official movie tie-ins—With 165 color images, a large-format visual companion to the political thriller film Anonymous, which imagines Edward de Vere, the Earl of Oxford, as the true author of the plays credited to William Shakespeare.A riveting story and a striking portrayal of the Elizabethan period—full of opulent costumes, greedy nobles, illicit romances at the royal court, and bawdy playwrights—the movie Anonymous is captured in this stunning pictorial book that describes how the film was developed and produced. Divided into five sections, it includes:
• a fascinating essay by director Roland Emmerich about what he calls "the single greatest filmmaking experience of my life"
• an essay by screenwriter John Orloff (Band of Brothers, Legends of the Guardians, A Mighty Heart) explaining how this idea finally became a major motion picture over the span of ten years
• a humorous piece by Mark Twain discussing the Shakespeare authorship question
• an enticing argument by Charles Beauclerk, author of Shakespeare's Lost Kingdom, suggesting that his ancestor, Edward de Vere, is the true author
• commentaries from the cast and crew on the film's production, costume design, locations, sets, cinematography, and visual effects
• production sketches, concept illustrations, script excerpts
• sidebars on historical references, chronologies
• an extensive bibliography
About the Author
Roland Emmerich is the well-known director of
2012,
The Day After Tomorrow,
The Patriot,
Independence Day,
Godzilla,
Stargate, and
Universal Soldier.
His longtime fascination with the Shakespeare authorship question and the Elizabethan period led to his determination to make a feature film about the mystery. He lives in Los Angeles.