William Shakespeare: England's Greatest Playwright and Poet

by David Hilliam

This fascinating book focuses on the historical currents that influenced Shakespeare's life and work. Born into an era of intense civil, political, and religious strife, Shakespeare lived in an England plagued by religious warfare, disease, and poverty. At the same time, he was also witness to dazzling spectacles, scarcely believable tales of exploration, and the birth of live theater as we know it. Out of this creative and volatile social environment, Shakespeare's artistry emerged. This richly detailed biography provides invaluable context to his work.

112 pages, Library Binding

First published October 1, 2004

Reviews

[Manoshi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this entirely in my Saturday program and I liked reading it. I have read about Shakespeare before and this was a good summary of his life I just wish they didn’t say some parts of his life was a mystery over and over again but overall good.

[Christian Hines · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book William Shakespeare: England’s Greatest Playwright and Poet gave a great deal of information on the life and work of William Shakespeare. The author David Hilman did a great job giving information to the reader so that they can learn about Shakespeare’s life. David Hilman not only gives information about Shakespeare, but also about what Europe was like at the time.
This book talks about everything from Shakespeare’s beginnings to the last days of Shakespeare’s life. The beginning of the book talks about Shakespeare’s childhood and where he grew up. Shakespeare grew up during the Renaissance in Europe and this book even gives facts on what was happening in Europe in this time of rebirth. Without giving too much away, Shakespeare’s early life was hard and challenging.
Later on in Shakespeare’s life he became very famous for his plays and sonnets. The first modern theatres were invented in London where Shakespeare grew up. In the 1590s, Shakespeare wrote his first plays named The Two Gentlemen of Verona and The Taming of the Shrew. Shakespeare’s writing was perceived very well by his audience. They liked the twists, the props, and the acting. Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies, comedies, and histories are also discussed in this book. William Shakespeare: England’s Greatest Playwright and Poet is great for getting a general background on Shakespeare’s life, accomplishments, and Europe in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.