James Shapiro Books
James Shapiro is a professor of English literature at Columbia University, New York, and one of the world’s leading experts on Shakespeare. He has written numerous books on Elizabethan drama and poetry as well as the highly acclaimed study of authorship, Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare? Shapiro’s A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare: 1599 won both the 2006 Samuel Johnson Prize and the 2006 Theatre Book Prize.
What's A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare about?
A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare (2005) sets out to answer a slippery question: How did Shakespeare become Shakespeare? Despite centuries of digging, literary scholars have failed to find the kind of documentary evidence that illuminates conventional biographies. Does that mean we can only speculate about the great dramatist’s life? Not quite. In these blinks, we’ll shed light on the real Shakespeare by reconstructing the world in which he lived during the single and remarkable year of 1599.
Who should read A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare?
- Shakespeare lovers
- History buffs
- Theatergoers
Shakespeare in a Divided America
What's Shakespeare in a Divided America about?
Shakespeare in a Divided America (2020) offers a new perspective on American history. In looking back at eight instances where Shakespeare’s plays have been politicized by those on both sides of the political spectrum, we can see how the playwright's work has remained highly relevant over the years.
Who should read Shakespeare in a Divided America?
- Fans of the Bard and his many plays
- People interested in how art can be politicized
- History buffs and those curious about America’s political past