a great, great book
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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 and the Jews" and "1599", as well as Ackroyd's biography. So I'm keen for a good book on Shakespeare, but want something which is accessible and human.
Nuttall's book is concerned with the psychological, moral and philosphical insights underpinning Shakespeare's writing, but writes also in an historical context - commentary on the dramatist's work is complemented by reference to his forbearers in Rome and Greece, as well as his contemporaries; Nuttall also compares Shakespeare with more modern writers and 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 - and so less obviously relevant to a lay reader such as myself, though still very interesting - and this definitely is a great, great book.
It is a passionate and intense and closely-argued work, which traces the development of Shakespeare's concepts of identity and self-awareness in particular through the chronology of his plays.
It is also quite a moving book in the depth of thought and feeling it reveals not only on Shakespeare's part, but on Nuttall's also, especially in its sense of humour.
A book I hope you'll read.
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