I need your help. I need someone to recommend to me the best biography of Shakespeare for me to read.
My degree from Michigan State University is in English Education, a degree which, sadly, required me to read absolutely NO Shakespeare.
Currently I’m reading a bio of Billy Strayhorn
Strayhorn did not have the benefit of a college education, but did not need that to come to knew enough Shakespeare to quote him and to write a jazz suite around Shakespeare’s works, performed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra at an early Stratford Shakespeare Festival.
Admittedly, Strayhorn was a genius. But this non-genius former English teacher turned pastor would like to patch some holes in his education.
So, I repeat, anyone have any recommendations of a really good bio of Shakespeare?
Staci Thomas
You need this book: A Thoroughly Painless Guide to the Best of the Bard: The Friendly Shakespeare by Norrie Epstein. I adore, adore, adore this book. If you'd like to check it out before you order, let me know.
Randy Greenwald
Ah, there is something so wrong with this picture. The engineer from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute giving suggestions regarding Shakespeare to the 'English' major from Michigan State University. No need to see it. Your recommendation is sufficient. Ordered.Anyone else?
Staci Thomas
The suggestion stems from the Quartet in C Academy's Continuing Education Program. VPI's English department did not know a whole lot about Shakespeare, trust me.