1599 - A Year In The Life Of William Shakespeare

James Shapiro

Written by an American professor and a very scholarly book indeed. Based around the year in which Shakespeare wrote Julius Caesar and Hamlet. The author's point is that Shakespeare was writing for the times and showing his audience what was around them. Interesting from the point of view of a non-Shakespearian/historical scholar to learn about such things as the press gangs who took men from audiences at his plays and how such famous passages as the Henry V battle speech parodied and referenced a contemporary preacher. An interesting historical analysis of the time.
Doreen 12/3/06

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