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cheriekg's review against another edition
5.0
Honestly, the only book the every day person needs to read about Shakespeare. Clear, straightforward, engaging and fun.
mapdock's review against another edition
4.0
A quick, good read that uncovers all we don't know about Shakespeare, plus a lot of color about the time and place he occupied. Bryson always feels like a humor writer grafted (successfully) to the travel/history genre, and this book is no different. The underlying joke here is how conjecture has compensated for the minuscule historical certainty that exists around Shakespeare and his work. Bryson pokes fun at some desperate past attempts to uncover the true Shakespeare, and highlights the hard facts with his usual wit.
thefriedone's review against another edition
3.0
Quite informative but not the most enjoyable read. It turns out everything we think we know about Shakespeare's life is either based on shaky evidence or completely made up. So it would be a mistake to say that I learned a lot about his life in this book, because all I really learned was that the answer is "we don't know" to almost every question. I do enjoy Bryson's style and it's a quick read, so I would recommend if you are interested in learning how everything you know about Shakespeare is actually wrong.
ellie_2456's review against another edition
informative
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
ticha_bugalho's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
'Shakespeare: The World as Stage' by Bill Bryson is a quick, easy read that offers a fascinating exploration of Shakespeare’s life and times. Bryson’s engaging narration, especially in the audiobook, makes it enjoyable, even though much of what we know about Shakespeare remains speculative. The book delves into the historical context of the 16th century, revealing how Shakespeare’s work influenced the English language. Bryson’s depiction of the era almost feels like science fiction, highlighting just how extraordinary and mysterious Shakespeare’s world was.