The World of Shakespeare

by Anna Claybourne, Rebecca Treays

This is an introduction to the life and work of William Shakespeare. The book covers every aspect of the genius of Shakespeare, revealing the world he lived in, examining his controversial life, exploring his rich and varied works, and meeting his fascinating characters. A description is given of how Shakespeare's plays were performed when he was alive, and a look behind the scenes is given as a modern drama company prepares to stage a new production. A reference section contains plot summaries, glossaries and a Shakespeare quiz. The book is highly illustrated with Elizabethan drawings, reproductions of historical manuscripts, designs and posters.

Genres: Shakespeare, Nonfiction, Childrens, History

64 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Freelance children’s writer and editor, based in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Anna Claybourne writes children's information books on all kinds of topics: science experiments, ancient history, the human body, things to make, the environment, robots, evolution, art, fashion, Shakespeare and many more - as well as retellings of myths, legends and Shakespeare plays, and rhyming stories.

She studied English literature at university, but has always been interested in science, technology and art and design as well. She loves making and crafting, especially sewing, and her house is full of fabrics, craft materials, tools and books. Other interests and passions include camping, cats, outdoor swimming, news and politics, and music - she plays the trombone and has played in many different bands and orchestras, including performing live on a John Peel session in 2002 with Scottish band Ballboy.

Anna was born and grew up in Yorkshire, but has also lived in Canada as a student, Iceland as an au pair, and Costa Rica as a conservation volunteer, where she saw tarantulas, tapirs, monkeys, sloths, crocodiles and giant katydids. She now lives in Edinburgh with her two children and two cats, Skye and Socks.

Reviews

[Sophie Crane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used for ks3 English work. Well set out. . Attractive on the eye and appealing to youngsters. Very informative. Good book.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is about Shakespeare's many writings and how they have been performed, interpreted and adapted. I randomly picked this book off of the shelf and didn't think I'd like it, but it was actually very interesting. I would recommend this book to anyone who has read Shakespeare before and would like to learn more about his time period.

[Hank Hoeft · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is both a good primer for middle school and high school students new to Shakespeare, and a resource for teachers teaching Shakespeare to middle school and high school students. Besides giving overviews of Shakespeare's plays and Shakespearean theater, it is full of interesting little bits that help Shakespeare and his works come alive and seem more real, more human.

[Janelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book for explaining the time period of Shakespearean England, the differences in types of plays written (tragedy, comedy, romance, history), and brief explanations of the plots and characters. Also given is a timeline, glossary, and many websites to use.

[Michael P. · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are only a couple of assumptions stated as facts, so this is an excellent and helpfully illustrated into to Shakespeare.

[Nicky Pitman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book when teaching the Elizabethan Renaissance and Shakespeare to Middle Schoolers. The illustrations and photos add a lot and the ideas are clear and easy to grasp. It is a wonderful supplement for any teacher who knows their stuff and it is a helpful tool for those who just want to touch on the information. I highly recommend it!

[Ebookwormy1 · Rating 3 out of 5]

A colorful reference work on the world and work of Shakespeare.