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Loading... In Search of Shakespeareby Michael Wood
   None No current Talk conversations about this book.  Helenliz | May 24, 2017 |   From Shakespeare's early days in Warwickshire to the sophisticated world of theatrical life and political skulduggery in London, Wood makes few claims to new discoveries, but offers a refreshingly global understanding of what drove Shakespeare and his creativity, from his Catholic origins to the Black Londoners that he met every day. Wood too often has to "enter the realm of diverting speculation rather than that of verifiable historical fact". Did Shakespeare have an affair with Emilia Lanier? Did he die an alcoholic? Wood colourfully poses such questions, though too many remain unanswered; he cheerfully admits that he's no Shakespeare scholar, but a popular historian who has enthusiastically placed Shakespeare back into the extraordinarily fertile world that produced him. --Jerry Brotton  antimuzak | Jun 7, 2006 | 1  | Roger_Scoppie | Apr 3, 2013 |
 Shakespeare is a titillating glimpse into the influences on “the Bard”. From his fortuitous birth before strict religious curtailment was enforced to his living through the church reformation precipitated by King Henry VIII’s peculiar method of changing wives, the reader sees the defining particulars of William’s life. As with many people who were as famous as they were talented, many legends have sprung up around Shakespeare. Wood attempts to separate fact from fiction and makes many convincing arguments for and against the sundry rumors. In an effort to immerse the reader in the look and feel of the time, Wood provides many interesting illustrations, including a photograph of a schoolroom where the great man studied before he became a great man. There are descriptions of scandals both of the regency and the common man which, unfortunately, include William’s own father. Upon seeing the details in print (or on PBS) one cannot help but look at Shakespeare’s works with new eyes. His descriptions of rural life must surely be more poignant once the reader knows that he actually did live it. The portrait of William as a bit of a rake is somewhat at odds with our modern perception of him as balding and middle-aged. It is interesting to imagine him in his wild oat-sowing days. There is no lack of rumored scandals to be explored in search of the real man. The pacing of the book is brisk and easy to follow. Wood does an excellent job of relating anecdotes without running them into the ground. He provides a fresh slant on age-old debates and makes many logical arguments of why this is so and that is no. Shakespeare is a delight for fans of the Shakespearean works as well as those who have a love of history. As the story of an extraordinary man living in extraordinary times, William Shakespeare’s life proves to be a thoroughly good read. Is a concordance to
Almost 400 years after his death, William Shakespeare is still acclaimed as the world's greatest writer, and yet the man himself remains shrouded in mystery. In this absorbing historical detective story, the acclaimed broadcaster and historian Michael Wood takes a fresh approach to Shakespeare's life, brilliantly recreating the turbulent times through which the poet lived- the age of the Reformation, the Spanish Armada, the Gunpowder Plot and the colonization of the Americas.Drawing on an extensive range of sources, Michael Wood takes us back into Elizabethan England to reveal a man who is the product of his time -a period of tremendous upheaval that straddled the medieval and modern worlds.Using a wealth of unexplored archive evidence the author vividly conjures up the neighbourhoods of the Elizabethan London where Shakespeare lived and worked during his glittering career.Full of fresh insights and fascinating new discoveries, this book presents us with a Shakespeare for the twenty-first century- a man of the theatre, a thinking artist, playful and cunning who held up a mirror to hi sage, but who was also, as his friend Ben Jonson said, 'not of an age, but for all time'. No library descriptions found. |
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 Google Books — Loading...GenresMelvil Decimal System (DDC)822.33Literature English & Old English literatures English drama Elizabethan 1558-1625 Shakespeare, William 1564–1616LC ClassificationRatingAverage: (3.79)
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Wikipedia in English (5)
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It takes some of his writing and tries to show how what is known features in his writing. It's not too far fetched, it stays grounded in evidence. The only possible criticism would be that it ends quite abruptly, with the end of his life and his retirement to Stratford being dealt with quite swiftly.
As ever, there are as many questions as answers, but at least this gives some solid ground to ask the questions. (