The Winding Stair: Francis Bacon, His Rise and Fall (Virago Modern Classics)

Francis Bacon was one of the leading thinkers not just of his age but in all history. This volume by Daphne du Maurier, "The Winding Stair," is a sequel to "Golden Lads" and picks up Bacon's biography in 1601 after the death of his brother Anthony. The author provides a bit of the backstory of Bacon's life up to that point before proceeding.Events of the era in England, in both domestic and foreign affairs, provide a backdrop for this biography—in 1603, Queen Elizabeth died and King James acceded to the throne. Du Maurier notes the differences in governing styles between Elizabeth and James and traces Bacon's career and relationship to James. Bacon's marriage is recalled, as well as his scandal late in life, comeback, and death.The author describes the wide range of topics Bacon wrote about in his essays, noting the areas in which Bacon was farsighted and ahead, sometimes well ahead, of his time. Du Maurier hints that Bacon had a significant role in the authorship of Shakespeare's plays. As with any great biography, there are many keen glimpses into the human condition and reminders that human nature changes little over the centuries.

The book is a well researched and interesting account of Francis Bacon's extraordinary life which hints at his being the writer of the Shakespeare plays. However it excludes what many believe to be the real reason for Bacon's choice of Wm Shakespeare as a mask to conceal Bacon's authorship. This is that Bacon was the concealed first born son of Elizabeth 1st and her heir apparent. There is also no mention of the secret codes which run through the plays by which Bacon reveals his identity and biography for future generations to discover. Since the publication of The Winding Stair a good deal more information is available and the Shakespeare authorship debate is increasingly a hot topic. The new 2016 novel -The Royal Secret- now available on Amazon in print- reveals a great deal more of the drama of Bacon's life and the reasons why he is the most likely candidate for the Shakespeare authorship, and perhaps deserves to be known as the most important man in both UK and US history.

Well written and researched

This book is excellent and deals with the trials and tribulations and defamation the ever wondrous, totally brilliant and world influencing Francis Bacon had to endure in a world that didn't understand and appreciation his many talents, deep thinking and generous spirit.

This work did not disappoint. Daphne du Maurier did her homework. I highly recommend it if you are looking for a well written biography of Sir Francis, his rise and fall.

Great

Surprisingly dull and dry account of Francis Bacon's life, with none of the color or lively style one might expect from a novelist. In their Tudor biographies Carolly Erickson, Tracy Borman, and Mary Lovell are much more able to capture the intriguing atmosphere of Renaissance England and to make their subjects come alive. Du Maurier is admirably scrupulous about sticking to the facts; she avoids the fiction-writer's temptation to write about scenes that probably happened or to tell (without any evidence) what a historical figure was thinking on certain occasions. However, she does not make Bacon into a compelling, fully human protagonist, and the other figures in the book remain sketchy at best. This may be inevitable in a case like Bacon's wife Alice - - du Maurier notes that we have virtually no information about her thoughts and feelings, since her correspondence has not survived - - but the same blankness occurs when du Maurier writes about well-documented figures like King James and the Duke of Buckingham, who could be fascinating but who emerge here as near-ciphers.

Yes, the novelist who gave us Hitchcock's "Jamaica Inn," "Rebecca," and "The Birds," was also a historian, especially anything that had to do with her own family and her own "country," southwest England."The Winding Stair" begins where "Golden Lads" ends. It begins with Francis at age 40, on the death of his brother.The title comes from the quote that one's ascent in life is like a winding stair, taking one step at a time.Easy to read, and fills in the gaps of Francis Bacon's life. But the best part of this is the fact that it was written by a celebrity in her own right: Daphne du Maurier.

This starts out better than it ends, but rather irritatingly begins in the middle of Bacon's life when he's about 40. His younger life is (apparently) covered in 'The Golden Lads' by Du Maurier.Not a scholarly biography, this purports to give a sense of Bacon the man. The introduction claims that Du Maurier falls in love with her own subject, but though I thought she's definitely biased in a positive way towards him, she never succeeds in making Bacon come to life, and fails to give a sense of his undoubted intellectual charm. He actually seems both a bumbler politically, and arrogant intellectually, and quite cold in all his personal relations.James (I & VI) has far more presence in the book that its supposed subject. Not a huge recommendation.

Everything great. good quality