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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
adventurous
funny
informative
medium-paced
3.5/5 but gets an upgrade for its bodying of anti-Stratfordians
Not much is known about Shakespeare, and Bryson delivers it to us with the awe of pure admiration. My favorite chapter was the discussion of other claimants of his work. Brilliantly sliced and ruthlessly diced.
An interesting biography of the man and the time he lived in. It was amusing how often areas came down to more or less "here's some theories and why some are more likely than others, but we really have very little evidence of anything at all"
"(...)he is a kind of literary equivalent of an electron - forever there and not there."
Bill Bryson's take on a Shakespeare is a witty commentary to the whole of the mythical author's phenomenon. If there is one thing anyone can learn from this book, it is that in truth we know next to nothing about the great Elizabethan bard, and it is most likely that we never will. Although there is more than enough said about Shakespeare's work and his impact on English language, he is (and forever will be) an enigma.
Highly enjoyable and pleasant read.
Bill Bryson's take on a Shakespeare is a witty commentary to the whole of the mythical author's phenomenon. If there is one thing anyone can learn from this book, it is that in truth we know next to nothing about the great Elizabethan bard, and it is most likely that we never will. Although there is more than enough said about Shakespeare's work and his impact on English language, he is (and forever will be) an enigma.
Highly enjoyable and pleasant read.
I enjoy Bill Bryson and I enjoy Shakespeare, so this was going to be difficult not to like! The main theme of the book is basically 'we don't know anything about Shakespeare but gawd he was a genius' so it didn't conclude anything revealing, but I enjoyed learning what we do know (and how obsessive some people have had to be to reveal even that!)
Uma autobiografia de Shakespeare onde ficamos a saber que muito pouco se sabe acerca do Bardo, até que o quadro/imagem que circula dele, pode não ser a dele. O que este livro traz, além do pouco que sabemos dele (o que era normal dos autores do Séc. XVI) é o retrato da vida na Londres de Elizabete I e Jaime I, uma cidade populosa, cheia de gente nova (os pobres não passavam dos 30 anos e os ricos iam pouco além dos 40 anos), a pobreza e riqueza a viver lado a lado. Gostei da maneira que o autor conta as historias e vidas desse tempo, sempre com uma ponta de humor que torna a leitura muito agradável, até me fez rir. A única coisa da qual senti falta foi de um mapa de Londres, dessa época, com as aldeias vizinhas que agora fazem parte de Londres.
Recomendo esta leitura e agradeço @Luis C. por mo ter recomendado.
Recomendo esta leitura e agradeço @Luis C. por mo ter recomendado.
Me trauma que Shakespeare como persona sea tan interesante. Este libro me dejó ganas de investigar todas y cada una de las teorías alrededor de su vida, su relación con su esposa, sus litigios legales... No se, acabé casi con un pizarrón lleno de recortes unidos por hilo rojo. Es lectura ligera e interesante.
I love Bill Bryson and picked this up in a used bookstore in the UK many years ago. It was very easy to read and focused on contextualizing all the facts, and suppositions, we know about Shakespeare. With humor, as is Bryson's trademark.
I wasn't as in live with this book as I have been with other books by Bryson. The writing is fast paced and witty, but there was something missing. I'm thinking it is related to the topic. I like Shakespeare, but don't know that I an interested in the man, myth, or legend.
2.5 stars was my thought, but I went to 3 because I was compelled to finish it, and didn't feel forced to.
2.5 stars was my thought, but I went to 3 because I was compelled to finish it, and didn't feel forced to.