Praise for I, Iago
“This is an astonishing work of imaginative empathy, buttressed by deep research and enriched by lively storytelling. In I, Iago, Galland takes one of Shakespeare’s most enigmatic characters and creates a full life for him, sweeping the reader into the vibrant world of Venetian intrigue and the carrying us, also, to the deep places of the human heart.” -
- Geraldine Brooks, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author of Caleb’s Crossing and March
Galland’s character study was so fleshed out and human, I was captivated — mesmerized — by Iago, and I had to know what happened. I had to know why. Her supposition, her imagining of the world and circumstances that drove Iago to do what he did made sense to me, felt real to me, and still left me shocked and devastated. (In, of course, the best way, the way a really good book can do — and make one feel grateful for the experience!)
-from Unabridged Expression. For the full review, click here.
“Captivating…exquisitely written… I truly loved this story and enjoyed every minute of it. I was hooked from the very start and could not put it down.”
- from Life In Review. Click here for the full review.
I highly recommend this book to Shakespeare fans, historical fiction afficianados, or anyone who wants to be taken back in time to a shiny, elegant, and militaristic Venice. This is definitely a book to keep and cherish for a long time. I give this book 5 out of 5 stars.
- from Wandering Thoughts of a Scientific Housewife. For the full review, click here.
I, Iago is incredibly well written and researched…
-from Picky Girl. Pick here for the full review.
“I, IAGO is a fantastic read.”
- from Medieval Bookworm. Click here for the full review.
“… The relationship between Iago and Emilia is breathtaking–Galland paints them as the most perfect of soulmates: theirs is a love and attraction unmatched.”
- From the literary blog Elle Lit. Here is the whole review.
“…In other words, this is good storytelling….Highly recommended.”
- From the literary blog Dwell in Possibility. For the full review, click here.
“Actors often create a back story for a character to forge a path for themselves to a richer performance. Pity the actor who attempts to create a more intriguing and beguiling fictional history of one the original villains than that rendered here by Nicki Galland in “I, Iago.”
- Allyn Burrows, Artistic Director, Actors’ Shakespeare Project
“In this extended demonstration of narrative sorcery, Nicole Galland takes one of the most celebrated, hated and inexplicable villains in literature, and makes him a living, sympathetic human being — moral, upright, even admirable. She places Iago in his time and place and makes us see how wronged he was, and even — God help us — allows us to root for him as he seeks his vengeance. This is a wonderful historical novel that proves that all people see themselves as the hero of their own lives.”
- Peter Sagal, Host of NPR’s Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me!