This book contends that shakespeares socalled problem plays can be viewed as experiments in the mannerist style. It is more than a little curious that the elizabethan age is interchangeable with the age of shakespeare. Wood has also written a number of books on english history, including in. One of the biggest differences in the two books is the audience to which each is directed. Unfinished works by great writers the culture counter. Shakespeares mother the secret life of a tudor woman bbc documentary 2015 duration. National shakespeare shakespeare bauman rare books. This weeks issue features more of my tumblr advent shenanigans and a seasonal recommendation for the worlds best shakespearethemed holiday movie. In search of shakespeare by michael wood librarything. Having already gone in search of england and pursued the history of the conquistadors in his recent acclaimed series, wood has now taken on the. There is a section on recent critical, stage and film interpretations of the play, an updated reading list and a new.
With michael wood, gregory doran, ray fearon, robert whitelock. Historian michael woods piece suggests there was a black community in london, continue reading. Michael woods most popular book is in search of the dark ages. A brilliant piece of historical investigative journalism, shakespeare is a fresh telling of the playwrights life based on a wide range of newly discovered sources, such as police and torture records. The story of england is a grownup version of rudyard kiplings puck of pooks hill. Until his death, he was the husband of actress dame judi dench. Truly this is a great reference book for any student of shakespeare wanting to brush up on various themes or particular characters, or more especially wanting to. The oregon shakespeare festival will stage the classic american musical into the woods on the outdoor allen elizabethan theatre from june 4 through october 11, 2014.
As an illustrated biography of william shakespeare this is an immensely enjoyable book. In this absorbing historical detective story, acclaimed broadcaster and. It looks at these plays in a variety of contexts both in isolation and in relation to each other and to the cultural, ideological, social and political contexts which produced them. In search of shakespeare michael wood the lost years youtube. In search of shakespeare is a bbc documentary series presented by michael wood, about william shakespeares life somewhat obscured by the historical record. Beginning with an analysis of the roiling religious and political conflicts in shakespeares boyhood england, wood observes that, if great writers are made by their times, then to be born in 1564 was to be born in very interesting times indeed. All the latest professional scholarship on the question on shakespeare and catholicism is effectively incorporated in the book, but where wood has made genuine finds of his own is in the area of the dramatists daytoday life. The domesday quest, the story of england, and in search of shakespeare. Good will h unting the washington post book world, december 14, 2003. Glazed earthenware modelled by enoch wood 17591840, burslem, staffordshire. With shakespeare michael wood has provided a wideranging summary of contemporary historical research regarding the most celebrated author in the english language.
In this absorbing historical detective story, the acclaimed broadcaster and historian michael wood takes a fresh approach to shakespeares life, brilliantly. Faceless and yet forceful, shakespeare emerges from the book as the master general he must have been. The shakespeare family originated in balsall, and from. Woods short, engaging study is a subtle yet spirited introduction to the seductive power of a form of literary criticism. Explore some of michael wood best quotations and sayings on such as this book is startling in its range of voices and registers, running from the patois of the street posse to the book of revelation, it is a representation of political times and places, from the cia intervention in jamaica to the early years of crack gangs in new york and miami. Wood has also written a number of books on english history, including in search of the dark ages, the domesday quest, the story of england, and in search of shakespeare. In search of shakespeare by michael wood, 9780563521419, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. He was appointed professor of public history at the university of manchester in 20. Michael wood tours the english locations important to william shakespeare as he. Michael wood s most popular book is in search of the dark ages. In kiplings exceedingly good book, english history is told through a series of interconnected songs and. The series consists of four episodes which explore the life and works of the. Into the shakespearean woods, part 1 good tickle brain.
Michael leonard williams, ksg 9 july 1935 11 january 2001 was an english actor who played both classical and comedy roles. Shakespeare by author, filmmaker, and television producer michael wood is a biography of the man who is justifiable considered to be the greatest playwright in the literary history of the english language. Response to in search of shakespeare this documentary was a touching and informing tribute to shakespeare. Michael woods searching for shakespeare is a curious biography of william shakespeare. While much older, wood engravings enjoyed an important. The names divine by harold bloom riverhead books, 256 pp. Michael wood is the writer and presenter of many critically acclaimed series on television, including art of the western world, legacy and in the footsteps of alexander the great. Independent on sunday thanks to the authors gifts of storyteller, populariser and interpreter, shakespeares world is brought to life more vividly than in any other biography of him i have read. Michael wood has 85 books on goodreads with 15096 ratings.
The first folio, a printed book of 36 of his comedies, tragedies, and history plays, was published in 1623. Woodengraving engraving made with the graver or burin on the crosssection of a piece of boxwood. Michael wood, in search of shakespeare 2003 despite inaccuracies on some matters of detail, a lively account of shakespeares world and especially his. He asked his wife and son, who were his literary executors, to. In the late 1990s the shakespeare birthplace trust commissioned a number of reports on the documentary and physical evidence for the house. The investigations showed that the house previously known as glebe farm, 50. Yes, the book is filled with speculation none of it outlandish about the possible events in shakespeares life, but mr. Filled with fresh discoveries, michael woods pathbreaking work gloriously reinstates the image of william shakespeare as a thinking artist, a man who held up a mirror to his age, but who was also, as his friend ben jonson said, not of an age, but for all time. The plays reappraised here are julius caesar, hamlet, troilus and cressida, alls well that ends well and measure for measure. In search of shakespeare by michael wood waterstones. The lascivious lines, offensive oaths, and politically incorrect notions of the baddest bard of all is a delightful read, one best enjoyed a piece at a time.
Michael wood is an acclaimed author and tv presenter. Shakespeares as you like it can appear bright or somber in performance. This book was first published in 2003 and draws on years of research and newly discovered documents about the time was shakespeare was alive, particularly the years when he was working in the theatre. The companion volume to woods fourpart pbs documentary, to air in early 2004, this life of shakespeare has all the vividness of a good television profile, backed up with a keen and contentiou. Michael wood looks at shakespeares life as a playwright, a businessman, a poet, a family man and a courtier. Sheffield based crime writer and author of the dci matilda darke novels harper collins and the seventh victim audible. The results were received just before michael wood came to film.
Columbias copy, a part of the 1881 bequest of stephen whitney phoenix, is no exception, although over the decades it has been shown to a large. There can be few more appropriate writers and tv presenters to go in search of shakespeare than michael wood. To the which place a poor sequesterd stag, that from the hunters aim had taen a hurt, did come to languish, and indeed, my lord, the wretched animal heaved forth such groans that their discharge did stretch his leathern coat. This updated edition provides an account of what makes this popular play both innocent and dangerous. Wood, unlike many critics and biographers, tries to connect events in shakespeares life to his work, e. The saga continues in part 2 and part 3 in other news, the seventh issue of the weekly tickle brain email newsletter is going out today. The story of england, by michael wood the independent.
The book provides a fresh narrative of shakepeares life, drawing on a wide range of primary sources. Shakespeare by victor kiernan, michael wood waterstones. The house that was the subject of the inventory still stands, and from 14 march 2015 will be open for the summer. Watch bbc michael wood in search of shakespeare 3 of 4 the duty of poets ancientworld on dailymotion. Shakespeare by michael wood chasing shakespeares by sarah smith. On those occasions when the shakespeare first folio, the 1623 first printing in folio format of the collected works of william shakespeare, is placed on display, it is generally shown in splendid isolation as one of the great treasures of the library. Michael wood has a real gift for making history come alive. October is black history month, and this years focus on shakespeare has included a number of discussions of the presence of nonwhite people in england in the early modern period. Buy shakespeare by victor kiernan, michael wood from waterstones today. This book is a study of four of shakespeares major tragedies hamlet, othello, king lear and macbeth.
Bbc michael wood in search of shakespeare 3 of 4 the. Woods is an honest, wellorganised account that will serve the reader well. No, and he is not going to, because shakespeare leaves such contradictory traces. Skvheshakespeares mother the secret life of a tudor woman 1,458,737 views 59. There are certain writers, such as garry wills and john updike, who seem to. Explore books by michael wood with our selection at. One aspect i had never come across was a look at shakespeares religious beliefs and the context in which they took place. Books and films in search of shakespeare documentary. A preface to shakespeares tragedies book depository. He is author of over sixty tv films which have been shown worldwide and. In shakespeare, historian and television presenter michael wood pieces together a more convincing portrait of our most famous playwright than was previously thought possible.
View the profiles of professionals named michael shakespeare on linkedin. Books by michael wood author of in search of the dark ages. Sunday telegraph woods is an honest, wellorganised account that will serve the reader well. Bbc michael wood in search of shakespeare 1of4 a time of. Watch bbc michael wood in search of shakespeare 1of4 a time of. Dubbed the bard of avon, shakespeare oversaw the building of the globe theatre in london, where a number of his plays were staged, the bestknown of which include romeo and juliet, hamlet, and macbeth. A broadcaster and film maker of extraordinary range, wood has over eighty documentary films to his. The washington post book world shakespeare is excellent. Michael david wood is an english historian and broadcaster. Michael david wood born 23 july 1948 is an english historian and broadcaster. I read this biography immediately after stephen greenblatts will in the world, and so comparisons were running through my head for most of the time i was reading. The work, which was originally called dying is fun, consists of fragments nabokov wrote on 8 index cards. Woods account of the london of shakespeares day is excellently done and interestingly illustrated. Rather than approaching shakespeare as an isolated genius, wood argues that he was very much a product of his place and timea period of upheaval that straddled the medieval and modern worlds.