The name of William Shakespeare is universally acclaimed as a poet and a playwright, and few would have completed their education without at least a little knowledge of one or more of his works. "Shakespeare Staging the World",provides an invaluable insight into the known world and it's countries, cities and towns during the life of our favourite bard. It includes comprehensive descriptions of life in general, as well as information about historical and current events,racial and religious prejudices, stereotypes and real-life characters as they were during the Elizabethan era. These self-same details would have provided Shakespeare with the background and the characters of his written work. The superb illustrations are of items that still exist today, many of which can be seen on display at the British Museum from 19th July to the 25th November 2012.

I can honestly say that from the first time I opened the book, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. The pictures are incredible and the fact that so many are contained here makes for an exciting experience. The book brings you into the world of Shakespeare, and the world he lived in. We are shown items which would have been common in Shakespeare's time and informs the reader of the importance of such items. It puts into context ideas which have fallen out of fashion since the plays were written and explains where such ideas come from, opening up a whole new understanding of the plays for veterans and new comers. This book inspires the reader to visit the exhibition at the British Museum and is a must for anyone planning to go, as it really brings to life the significance of the objects contained there. As a Shakespeare enthusiast I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to find out more about the man, plays and society he lived in and to those wanting to indulge their passion for Shakespeare

I can honestly say that from the first time I opened the book, the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. The pictures are incredible and the fact that so many are contained here makes for an exciting experience. The book brings you into the world of Shakespeare, and the world he lived in. We are shown items which would have been common in Shakespeare's time and informs the reader of the importance of such items. It puts into context ideas which have fallen out of fashion since the plays were written and explains where such ideas come from, opening up a whole new understanding of the plays for veterans and new comers. This book inspires the reader to visit the exhibition at the British Museum and is a must for anyone planning to go, as it really brings to life the significance of the objects contained there. As a Shakespeare enthusiast I would definitely recommend this book to anyone wanting to find out more about the man, plays and society he lived in and to those wanting to indulge their passion for Shakespeare.

Published to accompany an exhibition of the same name to be held at the British Museum from July to November 2012, this beautifully produced book provides fascinating insights into the ways in which Shakespeare's plays reflect Britain's place in the world in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. What distinguishes this book in the vast catalogue of works on Shakespeare and his world is that Jonathan Bate and Dora Thornton illustrate the political, social and cultural developments and preoccupations of the age not only through Shakespeare's poetry and drama but also through contemporary pictures and artefacts from across the world. Some of these images will no doubt be familiar to Shakeaspeare scholars and to some general readers; however, others, such as an intriguing piece of propaganda in the form of a set of playing cards, will be unexpected. The ten chapters cover a variety of subjects linked to Shakespeare's works. These range from the London of the period to the poet's treatment of Greek and Roman history and the influence of classical mythology on Elizabethan and Jacobean culture. Although I have studied and taught Shakespeare's works for years and read many accounts of his life and times, I learned something new from each chapter and found this book utterly absorbing. It will, I'm sure, complement the forthcoming exhibition admirably, but will also provide a valuable consolation for anyone unable to travel to London to see it. The exhibition which this book accompanies is the British Museum's contribution to the 2012 Cultural Olympiad. As the world heads for London this summer, we learn how London attracted people from across the globe four hundred years ago, and how Europe and the New World were viewed by Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

"Shakespeare: Staging the World" offers a wealth of background information to add to readers' understanding of some of the nuances of Shakespeare's plays and of contemporary culture, as related to the various artefacts pictured throughout the book. Though interesting, there are times when the connection to Shakespeare seems somewhat tenuous, and these points, in my opinion, are the weakest areas of the book. Where it scores most highly is where it relates closely to Shakespeare's texts, illuminating a word or an underlying assumption which, though obvious to Elizabethan theatregoers, would be overlooked, undervalued, or misinterpreted by a modern audience. Despite the subject matter, the book is quite accessible and the language not overly academic, although the frequent referrals to subsequent chapters of the book can become irritating for anyone who wants to read it in order rather than flicking back and forth. Anyone without a reasonably thorough knowledge of Shakespeare's plays may end up feeling rather lost, but for students or Shakespeare enthusiasts, this book offers some fascinating and valuable insights.