- Paperback: 400 pages
- Publisher: BBC Books; New edition edition (Aug 28 2007)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0563521414
- ISBN-13: 978-0563521419
- Product Dimensions: 19.6 x 12.8 x 2.8 cm
- Shipping Weight: 340 g
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #482,281 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Amazon
There can be few more appropriate writers and TV presenters to go In Search of Shakespeare than Michael Wood. Having already gone In Search of England and pursued the history of the Conquistadors in his recent acclaimed series, Wood has now taken on The Bard in the book to accompany his latest TV series. This is well-trodden ground, but Wood tells the story with relish and an historian's eye for detail, dismissing Bardolatry in favour of a "tale of one man's life, lived through a time of revolution--a time when not only England, but the larger world beyond, would go through momentous changes."
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 --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.
Review
A book with success written all over it, notably in the name of the author and the subject matter. Michael Wood is such an accomplished popular historian that he could write about anything and his readership would pay for the finished product. For the new product to be about Shakespeare is a considerable bonus. Everyone has heard of Shakespeare. Many people have seen his plays, or Hollywood versions. But it is a common assumption that Shakespeare the author is a mystery, the Salinger of Tudor London. Wood shows that although there isn't a huge amount of documentary evidence about Shakespeare's life, there is enough about his times to place his extraordinary talent in its proper historical context. A lucid, extended footnote to the complete works of the world's greatest writer.
--This text refers to the
Hardcover
edition.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (2 customer reviews)
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Michael Wood gives fascinating window into Shakespeare's world, Nov 29 2009
By B. Jerome - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: In Search Of Shakespeare (Paperback)
Michael Wood has a real gift for making history come alive. This book was first published in 2003 and draws on years of research and newly discovered documents about the time was Shakespeare was alive, particularly the years when he was working in the theatre. The lost years (1582-1592) are not treated in as much detail as in the TV series of the same name (also fascinating), where Wood elaborates on the theory that Shakespeare was working in Lancashire as a teacher for part of the time. But this book is very readable, like a literary detective tale, and I always wanted to find out what happened next. The section on the Sonnets was particularly interesting. The book inspires one to re-read Shakespeare, as well as to follow up many of the themes that Wood introduces. Highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Excellent Book, Feb 10 2011
By W. Haider - Published on Amazon.com
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: In Search Of Shakespeare (Paperback)
I second the review by B. Jerome. Michael woods has written a great mystery and detective story in fleshing out the life of the greatest dramatist and poet of the English Language. I found the book hard to put down but also was enjoying so much I didn't want it to end. As with B. Jerome it inspires me to reread Shakespeare and learn more about his times. Other than the 'lost years' period that Jerome mentions, there is more detail than the PBS video series of the same name
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