The Two Wills by Blair Fell is a historical romance born out of Oscar Wilde’s assertion that Shakespeare’s main love, muse, and the recipient of 120+ sonnets was a man (an actor) named William Hughes. What’s more, Shakespeare’s “Dark Lady” muse, the recipient of a number of other sonnets (but not nearly as many as WH) was a woman of color named Rose. Forget the melodramatic, cheesy storyline of Shakespeare in Love in favor of Fell’s grounded yet still romantic portrayal of fledgling actor William Hughes as he becomes the muse of a lifetime for who Fell calls “The Poet.” Hughes is plucked from the grit ad grim of tavern work to become one of London’s most renowned players–inspiring and embodying female roles in Shakespeare’s most famous works.
We feel Hughes’ heartache right along with him in never knowing for sure “The Poet’s” true feelings. Is he merely using Hughes as his artistic muse and playing with his feelings to evoke further emotion from his plays? Rose, meanwhile, enjoys a passionate relationship with the Poet, for which Hughes feels jealousy and heartbreak. Yet, the Poet seems to always lead Hughes on–continually taking him to the edge of desire’s culmination before yanking it away. The other players in the theatre troupe warn Hughes against the Poet’s flighty nature, but still Hughes hangs on for a glimmer of true love until Kit Marlowe comes into his life and is so outright with his feelings for Hughes.
Blair Fell expertly captures the spirit of Shakespeare’s works, tone, and humor in the dialogue, slang of the time, and even in the farces some of the characters get up to in their game of hearts. Sexuality and gender expressions are fluid and free-flowing right alongside the creativity of the Poet and those surrounding him. Fell portrays these topics in with such genuine feeling and believability despite pre-concieved notions about the historical context’s rigidity surrounding gender and sexuality. I really did love the portrayal of Hughes’ relationships and how he navigates them. The other theme I really enjoyed in The Two Wills was strong community and found family. The actor troupes are tight-knit, and while there is some ribbing to be expected, most of the players are supportive of each other. The love I felt from that tight-knit community amidst all the behind the scenes goings-on with theatre life seemed to be portrayed in such a way that Fell was likely to have lived some version of these theatre or artistic experiences at some point in his life.
I devoured The Two Wills perhaps far too fast, but that only speaks to how interesting and engaging it is. I loved the fresh take on Shakespeare and the fully realized portrayal of Oscar Wilde’s well-supported theory about the Poet and WH.
The Two Wills will be released Oct. 20, 2026
