Shakespeare Audiobook By Bill Bryson cover art

Shakespeare

The World as Stage

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Shakespeare

By: Bill Bryson
Narrated by: Bill Bryson
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William Shakespeare, the most celebrated poet in the English language, left behind nearly a million words of text, but his biography has long been a thicket of wild supposition arranged around scant facts. With a steady hand and his trademark wit, Bill Bryson sorts through this colorful muddle to reveal the man himself.

Bryson documents the efforts of earlier scholars, from academics to eccentrics. Emulating the style of his famous travelogues, Bryson records episodes in his research, including a visit to a bunker-like basement room in Washington, D.C., where the world's largest collection of First Folios is housed.

Bryson celebrates Shakespeare as a writer of unimaginable talent and enormous inventiveness, a coiner of phrases ("vanish into thin air", "foregone conclusion", "one fell swoop") that even today have common currency. His Shakespeare is like no one else's: the beneficiary of Bryson's genial nature, his engaging skepticism, and a gift for storytelling unrivaled in our time.

©2007 Bill Bryson (P)2007 HarperCollins Publishers Art & Literature Authors Biographies & Memoirs Historical Literary History & Criticism Shakespeare Funny Witty

Critic reviews

"Bryson is a pleasant and funny guide to a subject at once overexposed and elusive." ( Publishers Weekly)
Fascinating Historical Insights • Comprehensive Research • Excellent Narration • Engaging Storytelling • Soothing Voice

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I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I learned all sorts of fascinating facts about Shakespeare and his time.

fascinating

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My 3rd Bryson book....all are equally engrossing. I find it hard to put down anything he writes.

Bryson

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A very enjoyable listen, although I feel it is best savoured in morsels as opposed to being bingeworthy. Thank you Mr Bryson.

Interesting and impeccably researched

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Concise, but enjoyable biography. I particularly like the discussions dealing with the ridiculous anti-Stratfordians. Yes, Shakespeare wrote Shakespeare. I thought this and Schapiro's book are the two best I have come across dealing with the authorship issue. In any case, I would recommend this book for anyone interested in Shakespeare.

Very enjoyable

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Bill Bryson and Shakespeare make a dynamic duo!! Bryson covers so many
facets of Shakespeare, the reader looks forward to each chapter!

Bryson and Shakespeare

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The last chapter where he was interviewed absolutely made me cringe with his fake British accent. He’s from the Midwest. He will always have that Midwest accent. He must’ve worked really long and hard to get rid of it or bury what will always be lurking in his right brain.
I know he moved back to the United States for a while but miraculously he still uses the word “crisps“… Once a Midwestern are always a Midwestern or sorry Billy.

With that said I have listened to every single one of your books, some of them twice… But the accent?… No!!

Bill’s fake accent

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Loved Bill Bryson as always! My first listen was a Walk in the Woods as we traveled alongside of the Appalachian trail, on our history infused road trip , lots of laughter and understanding even as we were in a car. Briefly going to the trail, guided by a trail sign. We listened! my 2 grandchildren and I loved, laughed and became lifelong
Bill Bryson followers! Thanks Bill
My next return to Britain will be a relisten Notes from a Small Island
And I’ll be thinking of you in Hampshire as I immerse myself in Jane Austen. Much Gratitude love Granny Lambertin Nola

The real Shakspear

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I downloaded this book to kill time while driving but found that I really wanted to pay more attention to it than I could while on the road. Bill Bryson's lyric humor and research of the subject makes this most enjoyable.

very enjoyable!!

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Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

This is a great attempt to bring to light the life of Shakespeare within the context od the times he lived in.

What was one of the most memorable moments of Shakespeare?

Shakespeare's impact on the English language was probably only second to the bible. Not only the language but many of the cultural metaphors that now underpin our understanding of the world came from his art.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I listen to these books on long trips and I couldn't wait to get back on the road to finish it.

So much fun

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Where does Shakespeare rank among all the audiobooks you???ve listened to so far?

Fascinating book and a bit different for this author since it is not a first person narrative. I love how he can see to the heart of a topic with cool rationality and still make it emtertaining. He's one of my favs and this book is a great listen.

Bryson Rocks

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