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3.78 AVERAGE
3.78 AVERAGE
This was a short, but thorough account of what we know of the life of Shakespeare (which Bryson will tell you isn't very much) told in Bryson's signature style. His facts about Shakespeare's works seemed thoroughly researched, and his asides about the culture and events of the time were extremely fascinating.
funny
informative
fast-paced
Bill Bryson, I love you. You've turned another painfully dry, lacking subject and turned it into a fast paced, beautiful read!
This book was at times engaging and at others painfully disjointed. It was meant to be a book written only about the things we can absolutely know about Shakespeare, but for at least half a chapter it devolves into the most annoying kind of conjecture. This book might be good for those who want to learn more about Shakespeare without plunging into a 350 page biography, but will probably annoy anyone who knows something about Shakespeare already.
This was an interesting read about what we know - but more to the point, how much we don’t know - about William Shakespeare. Bill Bryson is always entertaining. He does a good job juxtaposing what passes for fact about Shakespeare with what is actually known about the man.
I enjoyed placing Shakespeare in a broader historical context, something I did not learn in high school. It’s spurring me to consider reading a few of his plays that I’ve never read, some of which I’ve never even seen.
P.S. The way we spell “Shakespeare” today was never a way Shakespeare himself spelled his name. Pretty interesting, huh?
I enjoyed placing Shakespeare in a broader historical context, something I did not learn in high school. It’s spurring me to consider reading a few of his plays that I’ve never read, some of which I’ve never even seen.
P.S. The way we spell “Shakespeare” today was never a way Shakespeare himself spelled his name. Pretty interesting, huh?
I liked this book in general. I didn't give it more stars because it did lose my interest from time to time and the interviewer at the end was terrible. She kept saying "mmmmm" after EVERYTHING that Bryson said. So obnoxious. I normally LOVE interviews with the author after an audiobook has completed but I had to turn this one off. I love Bill Bryson's voice so it was perfect narration. If you're looking for a brief but informative and witty biography of Shakespeare, this is the one to pick up. All in all, the audiobook was 5.5 hours which made it an easy listen during my commute.
Much ink has been spilled on Shakespeare, and rather fancifully so. Bill Bryson does an excellent job of looking at the slim collection of facts and illuminating without overstepping the bounds of honest scholarship. I would have appreciated more detailed footnotes, though!
Shakespeare: The World as Stage is highly readable and enjoyable, giving the reader lot of information about Shakespeare's time without being slow or dry. This book is truly a book outlining all we don't know about Shakespeare As with any biography on Shakespeare, it left me with more questions than answers.
I have the deepest respect for people willing to admit what they don’t know. And that’s exactly what this book is all about - just how little we really know about Shakespeare’s life (with a side of “yeah, that theory that’s been floating around forever? It’s crap.”)
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced