The Tainted Muse: Prejudice and Presumption in Shakespeare and His Time

A provocative look at Shakespeare in his age by one of our most influential theater figures

This book is a masterful and engaging exploration of both Shakespeare's works and his age. Concentrating on six recurring prejudices in Shakespeare’s plays—such as misogyny, elitism, distrust of effeminacy, and racism—Robert Brustein examines how Shakespeare and his contemporaries treated them. More than simply a thematic study, the book reveals a playwright constantly exploiting and exploring his ow...