Master Skylark facts for kids

An illustration from a 1909 play based on Master Skylark.

Master Skylark: A Story of Shakspere's Time is a popular children's book written in 1897 by an American author named John Bennett. The story is set in the time of the famous playwright William Shakespeare. It follows a young boy who has a beautiful singing voice. He gets kidnapped but is eventually saved and returned home. Shakespeare himself, along with other well-known people of that era, helps him. The first edition of the book had lovely pictures drawn by Reginald Bathurst Birch.

What is Master Skylark About?

The book tells the exciting adventures of a choir boy from Stratford-upon-Avon. This was Shakespeare's hometown. The boy is taken by a group of traveling actors and brought to London. In London, he gets to sing for Queen Elizabeth I, who was the Queen of England at the time.

During his journey, the boy meets famous people like the playwrights Ben Jonson and Thomas Heywood. He experiences life in Shakespeare's village and sees the London stage where plays were performed. The person who kidnaps him is described as a "master-player" from a theater group called the Lord High Admiral's players. Eventually, the boy is freed from his capture. He gives up his new fame and travels all the way back home to Stratford.

Why Was Master Skylark Popular?

Master Skylark was a very popular book when it first came out. It stayed a best-seller for quite some time. In 1898, The New York Times newspaper even listed it as one of the "Last Year's Best Books." They said it was a great book for children aged ten or twelve, especially if their family loved Shakespeare.

A reviewer from The Academy and Literature magazine also praised the book. They wrote that John Bennett had a good "literary conscience." This means he cared about writing well. They felt he created a story that was very "picturesque and charming." This means the story painted vivid pictures in the reader's mind and was delightful to read.

Master Skylark as a Play

The book was so well-liked that it was turned into a play several times. One famous play version was a five-act dramatization by Edgar White Burrill. This play was created to celebrate the 300th anniversary of William Shakespeare's death.

One review of the play mentioned that it might not be a deep drama. However, it was very entertaining. It offered a lively and colorful look at Shakespeare's time. The play was full of action and captured the feeling of that historical period.