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4.17 AVERAGE
4.17 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
By far the best non-fiction book I have read in several years. I was constantly astounded by the clarity and nuance that was presented. The research was impeccable. The evidence and interpretations are as clearly conveyed as the author’s passion. A game changer, should be required reading for students
challenging
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
A brilliant reflection on how we can continue to love Shakespeare through critical engagement. Written with acerbic wit, succinct unwavering honesty, but apparent adoration of Shakespeare, the author instantly grabs the reader’s attention and allows introspection of one’s own beliefs about Shakespeare and race while simultaneously offering a positive solution for the future.
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
I believe there is a far more exciting prospect than cancelling or fossilising the Bard: that is, to read him bravely; to shed the centuries-old elitist constructions of him as the ‘greatest writer in the world’ that only a few are privileged enough to understand. [...] Shakespeare's plays are too immense and powerful; they demand our active participation - they are a conversation, an invitation to imagine and interrogate, not simply to venerate and safeguard.
A brilliant read! It may seem uncomfortable to be made aware of the racism within Shakespeare's plays, but ‘Shakespeare was not concerned with his audience's comfort’, so why should we be? And however contradictory it seems, I walked away from this book with a greater appreciation for Shakespeare and theatre as a whole. This is because Karim-Cooper clearly has a deep love for the Bard: she did not write this book in an attempt to 'cancel' him, but to give her readers a better understanding of his work, which has to include unpacking and challenging the problematic aspects if we we want to do justice to the complexity of the plays. She did so in a very engaging and accessible way, and next to the necessary scrutiny there was an incredible amount of insight into Shakespeare's time, the way his plays were performed, the history of people of colour in theatre, and ways to move forward towards a truly decolonised Shakespeare.
Throughout the work, Karin-Cooper's passion and dedication to the study of Shakespeare is clearly evident. The Great White Bard offers more than just an analysis of how we can continue to study the Bard's work while also incorporating modern and important topics such as race, it reads almost like a lover letter to the Bard and draws readers in with a plethora of information, thought provoking concepts, and valuable insight into how the study of Shakespeare and his works can continue well into the future and make the works more inclusive and accessible to people of all ages, backgrounds, and races. This is definitely a book I will be purchasing to have on the shelf for future reads and further study.
I enjoyed this book and think scholars and the average lay person alike with enjoy and finding something useful and information within the pages.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.
I enjoyed this book and think scholars and the average lay person alike with enjoy and finding something useful and information within the pages.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC of this work in exchange for my honest review.
challenging
funny
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Any Shakespeare lover needs to read this book. Any fan of plays and literature should too. Farim-Cooper’s writing is so insightful and approachable, and as a Black actor who loves Shakespeare there were points raised that I had never even considered, even in plays I’d consider myself intimately familiar with. A perfect read to start 2025!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Antisemitism, Cultural appropriation, Colonisation, Classism
Minor: Rape
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced