https://bit.ly/4xIhOmx

The Corisco Conspiracy, A Memoir of William Shakespeare

Second Edition, 2026

ISBN (hardcover): 9781067917555

ISBN (paperback): 9781067917548

ISBN (E.book): 9781067917531

HISTORICAL NOTE

Although they never formally declared war against each other, England and Spain were in conflict for more than half of the forty-something years that Elizabeth the First sat uneasily on the English throne and Philip the Second menacingly wielded the Spanish sceptre.  For twenty of those years, from 1585 to 1605, the man whose name would later become a synonym for the word “English” was employed by Spain as a Roman Catholic counter intelligence operative.  The Corisco Conspiracy is his gripping firsthand account (in crystal-clear prose) of the chain of cloak-and-dagger misadventures that led him from the Spanish Armada to the Gunpowder Plot, of which, it turns out, he was the mastermind!

SYNOPSIS

April 1585: Jesuit messenger William Shakespeare, a recusant firebrand, arrives in Rome from London expecting to meet his best friend, a budding playwright with whom he wishes to enter into a partnership in the entertainment industry. But his friend left Rome about one month earlier to go and study for a doctorate in philology at the University of Salamanca in Spain. Before he decides whether to proceed to Salamanca or return to London, another messenger, a certain Guy Fawkes, brings him new directives from his employer: the Bishop of Winchester, a crypto-Catholic prelate of the Church of England. As instructed by His Excellency, William travels to the West African island city of Corisco in the Kingdom of Malabo. There he meets the woman and some of the men with whom, after suffering religious persecution for over two decades, he contrives the most diabolical assassination plot in British history.

The plot is uncovered in the nick of time. The majority of William’s co-conspirators are captured and executed. How he escapes the hangman’s noose is a story in itself.

PRAISE FOR THE CORISCO CONSPIRACY

“The author’s meticulous research and imaginative storytelling breathe new life into the Gunpowder Plot, offering readers a fresh perspective on the historical events and figures surrounding it.” reads.rachel on Instagram (USA)

 “The author’s writing is captivating.” From the review in Goodreads by Niket Setia (India)

“Bold and inventive far beyond any other version of Shakespeare’s life… The Corisco Conspiracy deserves to be made into a film.” From the review in Oxford Prospect Arts by author and historian Doctor Julia Gasper (UK)

“Bold interpretation of history with some of life’s most interesting real-life characters!” LinkedIn comment by author Jason Daniel Baker (Canada)

“The Corisco Conspiracy is a remarkable work that boldly reimagines the known history of the Gunpowder Plot, providing an enthralling account from an unexpected perspective.” reads.nancy on Instagram (USA)

 “…enjoyed imagining this version of the Gunpowder Plot. The idea that Shakespeare might be a crypto-Catholic spy is very suggestive.” LinkedIn comment by Susana Onega, Professor of English Literature, University of Zaragoza (Spain) 

“Extraordinary!” LinkedIn comment by theatre and arts teacher Erfan Khatibzadeh (Iran)

“History as you’ve never imagined it. Truth as strange as fiction.” Facebook comment by Dylan A. Reviewer (USA)

 “In The Corisco Conspiracy, Raphael Sóne has written a book of fanfiction that takes readers on a wonderful romp, exploring possibilities about the mystery that is Shakespeare.” From a review blogged by poet and Shakespeare scholar Paul Adrian Fried (USA) 

 “The intersection of history, literature, and mystery… is truly intriguing.” LinkedIn comment by journalist Tiblets Tesfaye Dejene (Ethiopia)

 “It combines the excitement and high stakes typical of spy or adventure novels with the serene tranquility found in a Buddhist monastery.” Niket_a_reviewer on Instagram (Australia)

“It’s a real page-turner.” Facebook comment by London (Ontario) artist Heidi Hoffmann (Canada)

“I wish it was longer than this!” LinkedIn comment by Thaalith Abubakar Gimba (Nigeria)

 “Nice work. Something original. Félicitations!” LinkedIn Comment by Doctor William Franke, Professor of Comparative Literature and Religious Studies, Vanderbilt University (USA)

 “Sóne writes Shakespeare as compelling, complex, and contradictory…” From the review by Julie Sara Porter in Bookworm Reviews (USA)

“This daring book challenges the accepted narrative of the Bard’s life, revealing intriguing and unexpected connections that add layers of complexity to the story of Shakespeare’s time.” read.with.emilee on Instagram (USA)

“The way the author weaves together suspense and character development is impressive, making the story not only captivating but also emotionally compelling.” From the review in Goodreads by Spanish translator Pilar Castro (Spain)

“Wow! This is quite the story.” LinkedIn comment by Anastacia Azuma (Nigeria)

“This is wild in the best way… what a bold twist on history.” Twitter (X) comment by thriller author Riley Sager (USA)

“…the tension gradually ramps up until you find yourself reading a romp of an adventure story.” Author, actor and theatre director Angela Wren (UK)