Listen free for 30 days

Listen with offer

  • Shakespeare in a Divided America

  • By: James Shapiro
  • Narrated by: Fred Sanders
  • Length: 9 hrs and 11 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (36 ratings)
Offer ends May 1st, 2024 11:59PM GMT. Terms and conditions apply.
£7.99/month after 3 months. Renews automatically.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection - including bestsellers and new releases.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, celeb exclusives, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Shakespeare in a Divided America cover art

Shakespeare in a Divided America

By: James Shapiro
Narrated by: Fred Sanders
Get this deal Try for £0.00

Pay £99p/month. After 3 months pay £7.99/month. Renews automatically. See terms for eligibility.

£7.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

Buy Now for £12.99

Buy Now for £12.99

Pay using card ending in
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.

Listeners also enjoyed...

Paul Sinha's History Revision: The Complete Series 1-3 cover art
Paul Robeson: No One Can Silence Me (Adapted for Young Adults) cover art
Orwell: The Essays cover art
The Case Against Education cover art
Children of the Night cover art
The Fate of Abraham cover art
Cultural Amnesia cover art
Ben Hecht cover art
No Such Thing as Society cover art
Looking for Lorraine cover art
Unreasonable Behaviour cover art
Langston Hughes: The Value of Contradiction cover art
Jane Fonda: The Actress in Her Time cover art
Mad About Shakespeare cover art
Constellation of Genius cover art
James Baldwin: Living in Fire cover art

Summary

From the author of 1599, a fresh perspective on the history of the United States - and a timely reminder of Shakespeare's indelible influence.

A RADIO 4 BOOK OF THE WEEK

Shakespeare's position as England's national poet is established and unquestionable. But as James Shapiro illuminates in this revelatory new history, Shakespeare has long held an essential place in American culture. Why, though, would a proudly independent republic embrace England's greatest writer? Especially when his works enact so many of America's darkest nightmares: interracial marriage, cross-dressing, same-sex love, tyranny, and assassination?

Investigating a selection of defining moments in American history - drilling into issues of race, miscegenation, gender, patriotism and immigration; encountering Presidents, activists, writers and actors - Shapiro leads us to fascinating answers and uncovers rich and startling stories. But perhaps most pressingly, we learn how, in Trump's America, the staging of his work has provoked threats of violence and has become a battleground for freedom of speech.

©2020 James Shapiro (P)2020 Faber Audio

Critic reviews

"With the lightest touch and the most formidable scholarship, James Shapiro, once again, proves himself to be an irresistible storyteller. And what an exhilarating and disturbing tale he has to tell. Here is proof that Shakespeare's power remains undiminished in our divided world." (Simon Russell Beale)

More from the same

What listeners say about Shakespeare in a Divided America

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    29
  • 4 Stars
    6
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Performance
  • 5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    28
  • 4 Stars
    5
  • 3 Stars
    0
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    24
  • 4 Stars
    7
  • 3 Stars
    1
  • 2 Stars
    0
  • 1 Stars
    0

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Very Interesting and informative

Very interesting insights into the history and influences of Shakespeare on the United States of America.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars
  • JP
  • 10-10-20

Great book

Wonderful book for Shakespeare, theatre and history lovers. Great narrator and clear recording. Highly recommend.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

A treat for Shakespeare and politics fans

Shapiro masterly takes us through US history through the lens of the Shakespeare’s works. Fascinating and entertaining throughout

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating

My son bought me this book for Christmas because I love Shakespeare and have a keen interest in US politics. It is fascinating and covers the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries, encompassing gender, racism, sexism and Trumpism. From Lincoln to Weinstein, via Cole Porter and Steve Bannon, I would highly recommend this thoughtful and thought-provoking book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!