In Search of Shakespeare - Hardcover

Wood, Michael

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 056353477X ISBN 13: 9780563534778

Publisher: BBC Books, 2007

Synopsis

Although Shakespeare is the world's greatest writer, his work familiar all over the world, we know virtually nothing about the man himself. In "Shakespeare", historian and television presenter Michael Wood pieces together a more convincing portrait of our most famous playwright than was previously thought possible. The book provides a fresh narrative of Shakepeare's life, drawing on a wide range of primary sources. Rather than approaching Shakespeare as an isolated genius, Michael argues that he was very much a product of his place and time - a period of great upheaval that straddled the medieval and modern worlds. In doing so, Michael reinstates the image of Shakespeare as a thinking artist, his work based firmly in the religion, politics, culture and class antagonisms of his day. In this revealing biography, Michael asks the questions the Shakespeare industry has previously failed to address.

About this title

About the Author

Michael Wood was born in Manchester and educated at Manchester Grammar School and Oriel College, Oxford, where he did post-graduate research in Anglo-Saxon history. A broadcaster and film-maker, he is the author of several highly praised books on English history, including In Search of the Dark Ages, Domesday and recently In Search of England. He has over eight documentary films to his name, including Art of the Western World, Legacy, In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great and the highly acclaimed Conquistadors. The writer behind three BBC films about Shakespeare's early history plays, he was a contributor to Shakespearean Perspective (1985). Michael Wood is a fellow of the Royal Historical Society.

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.

Edition details

• Publisher: BBC Books
• Publication date: 2007
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 056353477X
• ISBN 13: 9780563534778
• Binding: Hardcover
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 352