Boy

A Novel

By: Nicole Galland

Narrated by: Ell Potter

From critically acclaimed author Nicole Galland comes a vibrant and thought-provoking historical tale of love, political intrigue, and gender-swapping set in the theatre world of Elizabethan London.

Alexander “Sander” Cooke is the most celebrated “boy player” in the Chamberlain’s Men, William Shakespeare’s theatre company. Indeed, Sander’s androgynous beauty and deft portrayal of female roles have made him the toast of London, and his companionship is sought by noblewomen and -men alike. And yet, now at the height of his fame, he teeters on the cusp of adulthood, his future uncertain. Often, he wishes he could stop time and remain a boy forever.

Joan Buckler, Sander’s best friend, also has a dream. Though unschooled, she is whip-smart and fascinated by the snippets of natural philosophy to which she’s been exposed. And while she senses that Sander’s admiration for her is more than mere friendship, Joan’s true passion is knowledge, something that is nearly impossible for her to attain. As a woman, she has no place in the intellectual salons and cultural community of the day; only in disguise can she learn to her heart’s content.

Joan’s covert intellectual endeavors, coupled with Sander’s theatrical triumphs, attract the attention of none other than Francis Bacon: natural philosopher and trusted adviser to Queen Elizabeth. It is through their connection with Bacon—one of the greatest minds of their time—that their lives will be changed forever as they become embroiled in an intricate game of political intrigue that threatens their very survival.

Brimming with heart, curiosity, and rich historical detail, Boy offers an intimate glimpse of the moral complexities of a singular artistic era, and the roles we all choose to play on the world’s stage.

©2025 Nicole Galland (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers

Such a fun story

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the characters. I think the worrying needed a bit of editing but I was sorry when it was open.

Intelligent, compelling, touching and entertaining

I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a book this much. I happen to love Shakespeare and am fascinated by Elizabethan and Tudor history, but these are not prerequisites to enjoying this book. It is a story of two young people who can achieve their goals in life only by hiding their true identities -- which is a very Shakespearean concept by the way! The author's meticulously researched details -- the food, the clothing, navigating the London of old -- add so much depth and texture. And Shakespeare himself could have crafted the penultimate scene!

Enthralling Visit Backstage and Beyond

Easily my favorite of this author’s works to date. The pace and plot move us unhurriedly to a deftly woven conclusion that is wrapped like a Japanese gift in the Afterward.

As she explained to Austin Tichenor in the Reduced Shakespeare Company podcast about “Boy,” the details that envelop the tale are as accurate as they can be, while making room for the events to take place. This attention and respect for detail are worth the price of admission.

It isn’t often that we have a book we neither want to put down nor want to end. There is no cliffhanger nor obvious setup for a sequel, but there is room for one or more. The world building that went into this populated an existing historical cast with characters we could follow in subsequent adventures.

We can hope.

Great history piece with colorful characters

Loved the character development and history
Would love a next book to follow the characters journey

Intriguing, Beautifully Written & Narrated

Not my typical genre but it held my interest start to finish. Narration was excellent, historically educating while entertaining. I was sorry it ended so soon.

Good little story.

Enjoyable tale of a young male actor who is the talk of London who captures the desire of high society and his lifelong friend who is forced to masquerade as a man to pursue learning. Francis Bacon, William Shakespeare, the Earl of Essex and the sunset period of Elizabethan England all play a major role. There is some salacious but not graph sexual adventures and a very engaging plot. If you like Elzabethan era stories, you will like this. It scores points for historical accuracy.
The narration is great. Imagin Church being a favorite of mine.

Fun and fascinating story!

IBoy is vibrant and thrilling. Full of intrigue and romance, it brings Shakespeare’s London to life from the unique perspective . of one of his most celebrated boy actors. I loved it and will immediately listen to it a second time.

Great story!

Loved this story and wished it went on and on! The characters are endearing. The reading is flawless.