Customer Reviews

a great, great book - By: film slave, 26 Apr 2008
I had been reading through a number of very good books on Shakespeare over the last couple of years, starting with James Shapiro's terrific "Shakespeare & the Jews" & "1599", as well as Ackroyd's biography. So I'm keen for a good book on Shakespeare, but want something which is accessible & human.

Nuttall's book is concerned with the psychological, moral & philosphical insights underpinning Shakespeare's writing, but writes alsoin an historical context - commentary on the dramatist's work is complemented by reference to his forbearersin Rome & Greece, as well as his contemporaries; Nuttall also compares Shakespeare with more modern writers & thinkers on occasion, as a means to opening up the discussion without cheapening it.

Get past the first chapter, with its discussion of New Historicism - & so less obviously relevant to a lay reader such as myself, though still very interesting - & this definitely is a great, great book.

It is a passionate & intense & closely-argued work, which traces the development of Shakespeare's concepts of identity & self-awarenessin particular through the chronology of his plays.

It is also quite a moving bookin the depth of thought & feeling it reveals not only on Shakespeare's part, but on Nuttall's also, especiallyin its sense of humour.

A book I hope you'll read.