I Used to Know That: Shakespeare: stuff you forgot from school

Capturing the unbelievable scope of Shakespeare's influence, this book covers the little-known details of Shakespeare's life along with the surprising legacy of the language and phrases inherited from his works. Organized for easy reference, sections include:

• Shakespeare's Life Who was this man—the playwright, the lover, the family man?
  
  
• Words and Phrases Owed to Shakespeare Did you know we have Shakespeare to thank for words such as “bandit,” “fashionable,” and “moonbeam” and the phrases “in my mind's eye,” “in my heart of hearts,” and “to thine own self be true”?
  
  
• His Theater and Plays Synopses of the most famous of his plays
  
  
• Character Glossary All the most memorable, infamous, and beloved characters from Shakespeare's collective works, including Beatrice, Julius Caesar, Ariel, Falstaff, Cleopatra, Othello, and Horatio
  
  
• Index of Famous Lines “Better a witty fool than a foolish wit” from Twelfth Night and “Tempt not a desperate man” from Romeo and Juliet

Whether you're planning an appearance on Jeopardy or simply want to become a more interesting conversationalist, I Used to Know That: Shakespeare will provide you with hours of entertainment.

Liz Evers is a writer with a background in communications. Her love affair with Shakespeare began when she first studied Hamlet in secondary school in her native Dublin and continued at university, where she steadily ploughed her way through the Bard's complete works as part of her degree in English Literature. She also has an MA in Film and a Diploma in Journalism. She now lives in London, within dashing distance of the Globe Theatre.