Shakespeare's Restless World

Shakespeare's Restless World

by Neil MacGregor

Narrated by Neil MacGregor

Unabridged — 4 hours, 30 minutes

Shakespeare's Restless World

Shakespeare's Restless World

by Neil MacGregor

Narrated by Neil MacGregor

Unabridged — 4 hours, 30 minutes

Audiobook (Digital)

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Overview

What was life like for Shakespeare's first audiences? In a time of political and religious unrest and economic expansion, how did Elizabethan play-goers make sense of their changing world? What did the plays mean to the public when they were first performed? In this fascinating series, Neil MacGregor attempts to answer these questions by examining twenty objects from that turbulent period. There are grand objects such as a communion chalice, a Venetian goblet, and Dr Dee's mirror, as well as everyday items such as a theatregoer's fork and an apprentice's cap. From Drake's circumnavigation medal to an eye relic, he uses these objects to explore the issues that shaped Shakespeare's plays, and considers what they reveal about the concerns and beliefs of Shakespearean England. Speaking to scholars, historians and experts, he discusses the topics raised - everything from exploration and discovery to violence, entertainment, and the plague.

Editorial Reviews

FEBRUARY 2013 - AudioFile

The director of the British Museum examines history through particular objects. His earlier work was A HISTORY OF THE WORLD IN 100 OBJECTS. Now in 20 segments, each under 15 minutes, he turns to Shakespeare’s time, shedding light on the period and the plays and showing that Shakespeare's references were often cutting-edge. MacGregor is an enjoyable narrator His enunciation is very British and almost too precise; his voice, somewhat scratchy and querulous sounding but not unpleasant. Both fit his somewhat waspish manner and observations. He's lively, intelligent, and unstuffy. Other experts weigh in as well, and actors deliver pertinent quotes from the plays. The topics and history are interesting, and their application to the plays is rewarding. The whole is an enlightening pleasure. W.M. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

Product Details

BN ID: 2940172808845
Publisher: Random House UK
Publication date: 06/21/2012
Edition description: Unabridged
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