Reviews
Shakespeare in a Divided America: What His Plays Tell Us about Our Past and Future by James Shapiro
captaincocanutty's review against another edition
5.0
Very interesting, easy to follow explanation of how Shakespeare's plays mirror controversial topics all throughout America's history. Provides enough background information if you're not familiar with the topic or plays, but not so much that it's burdensome to read.
cafffine's review against another edition
4.0
must read for shakespeare fans in america. So informative and accessible. I’ll be thinking about president Grant cross-dressed as Desdemona forever.
kindledspiritsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
I love reading about how certain pieces of culture have been received over time and Shakespeare provides incredibly rich material for books of this nature. Because his works are so universally considered to be worthy of attention and study, figures throughout history have been influenced by his writing and have used his plays as tools of influence. James Shapiro, a leading Shakespeare scholar, traces the history of Shakespeare’s reception in America and how Americans across the political spectrum have turned to Shakespeare for inspiration in how to address the key issues of their day. From John Quincy Adams railing against Desdemona’s character because she dared to fall in love with a black man, to John Wilkes Booth’s and Lincoln’s shared fasciation with Shakespeare, to the fierce debate between writers and producers on how to end Shakespeare in Love all the way up to a controversial performance of Julius Caesar in 2017, in which a Trump-like Caesar is assassinated, that sparked a right wing firestorm. What makes this book fascinating is how it shines a light on the myriad of people from across the political spectrum who have invoked Shakespeare throughout history, sometimes reading the very same plays in completely different ways depending on their personal beliefs. However, this makes Shapiro’s conclusion all the more concerning. He fears that those on the right may have abandoned Shakespeare, finding him to be too representative of the ‘liberal cultural elite’ that they oppose and without common culture to act as a ‘canary in the coal mine’, Shapiro suspects that American will only grow more divided. This book, while it is dense in parts, would be much enjoyed by lovers of Shakespeare or politics (and absolutely ideal for people like me, who love both).
lea_fortkamp's review against another edition
4.0
Love the bard, but I do rather dislike the world we’re living in. This smart work made both of those truths more clear.
smcates's review against another edition
3.0
Fascinating read. Well-researched, and definitely timely. I simultaneously wanted more chapters/topics, but perhaps fewer pages (examples? Data?) as much of the chapters made a point and then just kept at it. I felt like this book could have explored more topics with a bit less detail for the Shakespeare enthusiast- it got dry and droning at times
lola425's review against another edition
4.0
Read for book group. What can Shakespeare teach us about ourselves, our country's past as well as its future? Shapiro explores the history of Shakespeare in America through the social and political lens of critical junctures in American history.
librarytay's review against another edition
5.0
As with all of James Shapiro’s books, this one is phenomenal. If not the whole book, I highly recommend reading the introduction and the final chapter to get a better understanding of what is happening in the United States today (and what has led to events like the terrorist attack on the US Capitol last week). It clearly demonstrates how right-wing media intentionally obfuscates facts and creates a rhetoric all its own. It’s not a mistake that they’ve shortened anti-fascist to antifa (which many Trump supporters believe to stand for anti-First Amendment instead). Like Greenblatt’s Tyrant: Shakespeare on Politics, this is a timely read that shows the enduring nature of the bard’s plays.