Shakespeare: The World as a Stage

Bill Bryson’s biography of William Shakespeare unravels the superstitions, academic discoveries, and myths surrounding the life of our greatest poet and playwright.

Shakespeare's Enduring Fame

Ever since he took the theatre of Elizabethan London by storm over 400 years ago, Shakespeare has remained centre stage. His fame stems not only from his plays – performed everywhere from school halls to the world's most illustrious theatres – but also from his enigmatic persona. His face is familiar to all, yet in reality, very little is known about the man behind the masterpieces.

A Life Shrouded in Mystery

Shakespeare’s life, despite the scrutiny of generations of biographers and scholars, is still a thicket of myths and traditions:

• Some are preposterous, others conflicting.
• These myths are arranged around the few scant facts known about the Bard, such as:
  • His birth in Stratford.
  • The bequest of his second-best bed to his wife when he died.

A Journey Through Shakespeare's World

Taking us on a journey through the streets of Elizabethan and Jacobean England, Bryson examines centuries of stories, half-truths, and downright lies surrounding our greatest dramatist.

With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bryson introduces:

• A host of engaging characters.
• The magic of Shakespeare's language.
• Fascinating details of the Bard's life, folios, poetry, and plays.

Celebrating Shakespeare's Legacy

Along the way, Bryson delights in the inventiveness of Shakespeare’s language, which has given us so many of the indispensable words and phrases we use today. He celebrates the Bard’s legacy to our literature, culture, and history.