Shakespeare's Restless World

By: Neil MacGregor

Narrated by: Neil MacGregor

What was life like for Shakespeare's first audiences? In a time of political and religious unrest and economic expansion, how did Elizabethan play-goers make sense of their changing world? What did the plays mean to the public when they were first performed? In this fascinating series, Neil MacGregor attempts to answer these questions by examining twenty objects from that turbulent period. There are grand objects such as a communion chalice, a Venetian goblet, and Dr Dee's mirror, as well as everyday items such as a theatregoer's fork and an apprentice's cap. From Drake's circumnavigation medal to an eye relic, he uses these objects to explore the issues that shaped Shakespeare's plays, and considers what they reveal about the concerns and beliefs of Shakespearean England. Speaking to scholars, historians and experts, he discusses the topics raised - everything from exploration and discovery to violence, entertainment, and the plague.

Entertaining

What made the experience of listening to Shakespeare's Restless World the most enjoyable?

The narrators enthusiasm for the subject.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Neil MacGregor?

sure.

Any additional comments?

It seams like the audio was taken from a tv or radio show. It's very easy to listen to but not quite a smooth as if it were intended as an audiobook. The subject matter and presentation are very entertaining and the price is not bad either.

Neil MacGregor is magic

The author is an artist with words. I love everything he has written. This one is no exception.