Cue for Treason by Geoffrey Trease was first published in 1940 but my copy is a Puffin reprint which was published in 1965.
This book begins in Cumberland where there are a lot of skirmishes around the Scotland/England border, but it’s the local landowner Sir Philip who is causing the villagers big problems as he’s enclosing the land which had been used by the villagers for grazing their cattle on. The land grab has huge consequences for the locals who are already living a hand to mouth existence. They decide to break down Sir Philip’s wall but Sir Philip and his men are about and Peter Brownrigg can’t resist the temptation to throw a stone at him, unfortunately he’s spotted doing it and a gun is fired at him, narrowly missing Peter’s head. The next day Sir Philip’s men come looking for Peter and he has to run away, if he’s caught he could be hanged!
London is the place to aim for and he falls in with another runaway lad on the way. They decide to stick together and look for work. They get taken on as apprentice actors in a travelling theatre group. Of course it turns out to be William Shakespeare’s company and the youngsters get involved in a dangerous intrigue involving the politics of Elizabeth’s court.
This is the second book I’ve read recently which involves William Shakespeare and his company of players, even so this was a really good read.
I read this in…perhaps Grade 8? (so, 1963) I loved it. Loved how the two runaways get caught up with the acting troupe, and the roles they play.
Thanks for reminding me of it.
Susan D
I’m glad it brought the memory back for you. I think this is the first book by the author that I’ve read, but I’ll look out for more I missed out on so many books for younger people as I went on to Agatha Christie so early.
We are big Geoffrey Trease fans in my family. I like this one a lot, although it is sort of a cliche to write a book set in the 16th century with theater and Shakespeare; but why not, I enjoy both. My mother’s favorite is Trumpets in the West and that was the only one she owned. I have collected quite a few more. He writes strong girl characters without making them anachronistic, which I appreciate.
His historical fiction is excellent but he is also known for a charming contemporary series that begins with No Boats on Bannermere, about four teens in the Lake Country. Please keep an eye out for that one!
Constance,
Thanks for the information. I think I’ll have to resort to the internet for his books as this is the only one I’ve ever found in a secondhand bookshop. Have you ever read anything by William Mayne?
I’ve read a couple by Mayne but not recently. I was trying to collect his whole Choir School series but I think I only own the first one. Must take a look!