Shakespeare

The World as a Stage

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Shakespeare

By: Bill Bryson

Narrated by: Bill Bryson

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About this listen

This short biography of William Shakespeare by world famous writer Bill Bryson brims with the author’s inimitable wit and intelligence.

Includes an exclusive Q&A session with the author.

Shakespeare’s life, despite the scrutiny of generations of biographers and scholars, is still a thicket of myths and traditions, some preposterous, some conflicting, arranged around the few scant facts known about the Bard – from his birth in Stratford to the bequest of his second best bed to his wife when he died.

Following his international bestsellers ‘A Short History of Nearly Everything’ and ‘The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid’, Bill Bryson has written a short biography of William Shakespeare for the Eminent Lives series – which seeks to pair great subjects with writers known for their strong sensibilities and sharp, lively points of view.

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I have so enjoyed this. Bill Bryson's earlier career as an investigative journalist has enabled him to write a fine examination of what is actually known of the life of Shakespeare and, entertainingly, the various controversies still buzzing about various aspects of that life and work.

This is not a scholarly tome. There are numerous such on so many aspects od Shakespeare, when we need them. This examination is short, but not abbreviated. It is full of facts, some of which I didn't know, and enjoyable in its informativeness. It is never dry - the chapter discussing the various alternative authors of the plays made me laugh aloud. It is such a good listen. I'll return to it often, I think, purely for the pleasure of listening.

And, oh joy, it's read by the author. Thus, what we hear is what was in his head when he wrote. And he does read so beautifully.

There's an interview at the end with one of the editors of the book, which is also interesting to listen to. Do not switch off when it starts! Sit back and enjoy The Writing Of... You'll chuckle.