1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare: Winner of the Baillie Gifford Winner of Winners Award 2023

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As interesting as I found the history, I was more intrigued by Shapiro's discussion of the four plays of 1599. Inevitably, in a book that aims to show the seminal nature of a year, Shapiro sometimes tries too hard.

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Yes, a year that saw Shakespeare draft Hamlet must be counted key; but it is rather harsh to imply that what had come before was of lesser worth than the rest of the output of 1599. The book provides a look into the daily life of the playwright during a time of personal upheaval and prodigious creativity. Shapiro enfatiza que Richard III, escrito no início da década de 1590, foi a peça que permaneceu mais popular na vida de Shakespeare do que Hamlet.

Para quem quer ler apenas um bom livro e assistir um filme sobre a vida de Shakespeare recomendo: “Nothing like the sun” de Anthony Burgess e “Shakespeare in love”, vencedor de Oscar. The Shakespeare that emerges is both simple and mysterious: a man of the theatre, who read, observed, listened and remembered.We are proud to be the long-time sponsor of the podcasts showcasing the short-listed books and their authors, as well as the annual celebratory gala in London when the winners are announced.