From bestselling author Bill Bryson comes this compelling short biography of William Shakespeare, our greatest dramatist and poet.
Examining centuries of myths, half-truths and downright lies, Bill Bryson makes sense of the man behind the masterpieces. As he leads us through the crowded streets of Elizabethan England, he brings to life the places and characters that inspired Shakespeare’s work. Along the way he delights in the inventiveness of Shakespeare’s language, which has given us so many of the indispensable words and phrases we use today, and celebrates the Bard’s legacy to our literature, culture and history.
Drawing together information from a vast array of sources, this is a masterful account of the life and works of William Shakespeare, one of the most famous and most enigmatic people ever to have lived – not to mention a classic piece of Bill Bryson.
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
ISBN: 9780007197903
Number of pages: 272
Weight: 210 g
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 17 mm
‘A delight…A gem of a book.’ Mail on Sunday ‘Witty and infectiously enthusiastic.’ Spectator 'A brilliantly funny and gently insightful travel guide to 16th century England. Bryson is great at picking out of the morass of Elizabethan fact the small details that illuminate and amuse…he also uncovers from the world that surrounded the theatre some fascinating examples of Elizabethan eccentricity…As an abbreviated tour around the world of Shakespeare, this could hardly be bettered.' Sunday Times ‘Bryson uses an inimitably light touch and squeezes a vast subject down to manageable proportions…he is a warm and funny guide through the whole complicated morass of Shakespearean scholarship.’ Financial Times
Being an English graduate, I'm a big Shakespeare fan anyway - so when I was bought this last Christmas I was really keen on starting it. When I actually did, I couldn't put it down - Bryson's objective... More
I am not really a fan of Shakespeare, but read this because i love Bill Bryson. He brings his usual wit and views to a subject i don't normally bother about and made it quite interesting. I can't imagine it... More
Bryson's engaging style makes literary history a thoroughly enjoyable experience. What little is known about the Bard's life is examined and brought to life with wit and insight. Suitable for complete... More
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