Shakespeare (The Illustrated and Updated Edition) Hardcover – Illustrated, November 3, 2009

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is the greatest author in English literature. Yet we know very little of the peerless wordsmith whose plays and poetry stand at the very summit of literary excellence. Bill Bryson is the Des Moines Iowa born literary gadabout who brings Shakespeare to the forefront in this slim volume from the Eminent Lives series of brief biographies of famous persons. Bryson's book confesses to us that we really know very little about Shakespeare. He was born in Stratford upon the Avon; wed Ann Hathaway a woman eight years his senior; produced three children with Ann and spent several years in London's busy theatrical scene. We have only three portraits which may or not be him. Shakespeare wrote in all genres from great comedies such as A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Taming of the Shrew and many others to the profound tragedies of Hamlet, King Lear, Othello and others. He also wrote outstanding history plays such as Henry V, Richard III and others. Bryson is good in describing the sixteenth century world of England. A time of plague and early death. In all of England the population was between 3 and 5 million. Women had to be played by men on the stage,. Shakespeare was both an actor and director and performed at the Globe theatre. The playwright gave us phrases and introduced words to his audience which are still in use to this very day. Bryson's book may be completed in one or two sitting and is a great book to refresh your understanding of Shakespeare. Recommended!

Bill Bryson may not be for everyone, but he is right in my wheel house. His History of Nearly Everything is one of my all time favorites and I've read 5 or 6 of his travel books too. Bryson's self deprecating humor and intelligence makes his presentation of history extremely entertaining and thought provoking. There aren't a lot of 'facts' in this biography as there aren't a lot of fact's we know for sure about Shakespeare. But what Bryson doesn't know about Shakespeare can fill a book.My favorite chapter dealt with the etymology of the english language, a subject Bryson explored in his book "The Mother Tongue". Shakespeare had a profound effect on the development of the english we speak today and Bryson goes into great detail about phrases and words that first appear in Shakespeare's works.Bryson doesn't just present facts, he presents sources. Sometimes going into great detail about their personal life and motives so the reader can evaluate their validity. All done with a humor and wit that keeps you from taking any of it too seriously.I recommend this book for anyone with a pulse and a sense of humor.

I wish the font size was larger and the type color was a bit darker. I have given this to a friend, but listened to it in the audio version which I prefer. It is read by the author and much better (to me) than reading the book. I bought the book to get some of the facts about Shakespeare's words ... that he added to the English language. About 1,700 words he created or put into use, and 400 or so that are still very commonly used. And he created many expressions that we still use, such as "save face" and so on.

This is my first Bill Bryson book and it won't be the last. He treats Shakespeare as a man of mystery, someone who left very little evidence of his life but left plays and poetry that the world stills reads and finds entertaining and intriguing. Bryson delves into the few documents that mention Shakepeare and the research done by scholars over the past four hundred years including the anti-Shakespeare advocates. He comes to the conclusion that William Shakespeare is still mysterious but possible. Bryson's style is accessible to readers who are not scholars, told with humor and humility. I recommend this book to any reader wishing to learn about (or less) about the Hard of Avon.

Realizing I knew nothing about Shakespeare the man I turned to one of my favorite authors, the talented Mr. Bryson, and quickly learned the reason I knew so little about The Bard....nobody does! Scant information exists but Bill Bryson is so well equipped to fill in the blanks with his vast knowledge of the life and times of the people, culture, and history of late 1500's UK, that paints an entertaining and educational picture.

Bill Bryson is, as usual, an excellent author. He has the gift of taking a complicated subject, and explaining it in English.A half century ago, when I took Literature 101 in college, we discussed Shakespeare in depth. I was thoroughly lost. Now, I understand. Unfortunately, I has to wait 50 years.If I could rate this six stars, I would.

I learned a great deal about London in the years of Shakespeare. Descriptions of the environment, the theater, and the intrigue of individuals involved were vivid. I am interested in the development of the English language. There was a great deal of new information about word usage, spelling and meanings of words. I haven't read anything by Bill Bryson I haven't enjoyed.

Not being a Shakespeare scholar, this book is full of revelations and information I've never heard. Written in the engaging style Bryson is known for, this book paints a clear picture of England during Shakespeare's time, then adds substance and fascinating details of the man himself. Bryson not only demonstrates his skill as storyteller, but impresses with the extensive research he brings to this subject.

I have read Bill Bryson in the past and found his books witty and humorous. This is definitely neither. Its a collection of studies to show how little we know about Shakespeare and highlight the false information written about him. The book ended abruptly. I read the whole book, but I don't know why I bothered. Do we really need hundreds of pages to tell us we don't know much about Shakespeare? I assume Bill Bryson was paid to research the subject & tour England. I can't see why he would have written otherwise. Don't waste your time

over the years I have heard and read many theories on the works of Shakespeare - mostly doubters as to its authorship. Bill Bryson, in his own inimitable way, takes us through the world of Shakespeare as easily as if he were discussing the latest political controversy. The years melt away and we are there, right in the world of Elizabethan Stratford and London, throwing light on what we do actually know about the life and times and people associated with Shakespeare. And, importantly, what we cannot possibly know, and what was known but has over time been irretrievably lost.He takes what could be, and usually is, a very dry subject requiring a staunch perseverance to stick at, and turns it into a delightful journey through the streets of Elizabethan England - and, importantly, leaves you assured in your understanding of Shakespeare

I started this with high expectations and I've not been disappointed. Bill Bryson has not so much written a biography of Bill the Quill, but more an examination of what others have said. I found this very useful.I've had a love of Shakespeare since I studied it at school over fifty years ago (OMG where have the years gone?) and have read numerous books about him. This is one of the best.Although much I already knew, I've still learned something new, particularly how the "facts" came to light, and how they are, or often are not credible.This is well written, which I expected from Bill Bryson, full of information, and an entertaining read. It is also short enough to read in one sitting if you wanted to. At no point was I bored.Highly recommend this book.

Probably about a 3 and a half stars, but I marked up as I enjoy Bryson’s conversational style here, as I do in all his books.This is a relatively slight book, at just 195 pages, but that’s Bryson’s point. He wanted to write a biography about Shakespeare based purely on facts alone, no guess work allowed. Truth is, he struggles to fill out a full book as we actually know very little actual detail about Shakespeare.We have a few passing mentions in official records, a few mentions from fellow playwrights and actors, but little else. As a middling sort of Englishman, this is normal for the time, and who was to know history’s later obsession with him. Bryson does a good job of context, of showing us the world and society Shakespeare lived in, better to understand the man himself.Did I learn anything new? Not really. It was a nicely delivered read, though, and I enjoyed it nonetheless.

I never realised before just how little is actually known about Shakespeare’s life. Yet Bill Bryson has managed to turn the few facts available into an entire, entertaining biography. Alongside Shakespeare, the reader finds out about his contemporary and companions. Bryson also lays to rest many myths about the bard which I found particularly satisfying! This is a great book for anyone interested I Shakespeare, but also for fans of Bryson, who will not be disappointed to find his wit and turn of phrase as well-honed as ever.