Will in the World

How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare

By: Stephen Greenblatt

Narrated by: Peter Jay Fernandez

Award-winning author Stephen Greenblatt is one of the most influential literary thinkers in the world. An acclaimed interpreter of Shakespeare's works, his ideas have changed the way countless people approach the classics. Now Greenblatt's uniquely brilliant voice delivers a magnificent biography of the Bard himself.

It is impossible to have any understanding of literature and not be familiar with William Shakepeare. He has influenced Western culture more than any other author. But how were Shakespeare's remarkable accomplishments even possible? How could a man without wealth, connections, or a university education move to London and quickly become the greatest playwright of all time? In this emerging narrative, Elizabethan England is reawakened, and we at last understand how Shakespeare became a legendary figure.

Don't miss Stephen Greenblatt talking about his book at the 2005 New York Times TimesTalk event, The Enigma of Shakespeare.©2004 Stephen Greenblatt (P)2004 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"This wonderful study, built on a lifetime's scholarship and a profound ability to perceive the life within the texts, creates as vivid and full portrait of Shakespeare as we are likely ever to have." (Publishers Weekly)

One of the Best Biographies of the Bard

As a conectural biography this is really pretty good. The author summarizes what is known about Shakespeare and then uses lines from the plays to speculate about what he may have been like socially, religously and politcally. The author also gives a detailed snapshot of the Elizabethian era. This book makes me want to explore Elizabethian and Jacobean drama and biography in more depth.

Excellent listen

Wonderful book and wonderfully narrated! Audible said I need to write more so fhhrh hdhdbd djdhdb ndbdbd

worth listening to

If you enjoy history. you will like this. Listebibg to parts of Shajespeare's plays made the histiry come alice.

So insightful!

Excellent and thought-provoking, would recommend to literary scholars and anyone who appreciates a good storyteller

Spectacular

Stephen Greenblatt is a genius. His thoughtful, brilliant review of Shakespeare’s life and works transcends biography and can only be described as a masterpiece. No matter how familiar you may be with Shakespeare’s life, plays, or poems, once you read this book, you will never think about them the same way again.