Influences Behind Shakespeare's Plays

Unlocking the World behind the Words: The Influences Behind Shakespeare's Plays William Shakespeare is often portrayed as a solitary genius, a fountain of creation sprung from nowhere. This book dismantles that myth, revealing the rich tapestry of ideas, traditions, and controversies that fueled his imagination. The Influences Behind Shakespeare's Plays is your essential guide to the intellectual and cultural world of the Bard. Journey beyond the page to explore the vibrant ecosystem that shaped his work. Plunge into the bustling world of Renaissance London, from the astrological charts and necromantic texts that informed his plots to the biting satire of the "Poets War" with his rivals. Discover how the larger world from the edges of the Ottoman Empire to the shores of Bermuda provided the geopolitical foundations for his settings. Explore the ways that Commedia dell'arte's stock characters inspired his comedies and how Plutarch's lives of the ancients were the bedrock for his tragedies. We meet key figures from the classical world of Homer, Ovid and Seneca to the contemporary spark of Marlowe, Kyd, and the patronage of Henry Carey and James VI. This book meticulously uncovers the inspirations, both grand and humble, that Shakespeare wove into his timeless art. For students, actors, directors, and anyone who has ever wondered where Shakespeare's magic truly came from, this is an indispensable companion. AUTHOR: R.K. Aanstad is a writer, illustrator, historian, and Shakespeare nerd with an MFA in theatre. She is the author of Who's Who in Shakespeare's History Plays: From Achilles to Anne Boleyn, A Bawdy Twelfth Night or What You Will Encyclopedia & Dramaturgical Handbook, and A Midsummer Night's Dream Illustrated Handbook and Encyclopedia. Based in the Pacific Northwest, she co-hosts the podcast Shakespeare and Friends with renowned Shakespeare scholar Darren Freebury-Jones and shares her home with two bossy cats, three silly little dogs, and lots of books. 32 b/w illustrations