Shakespeare in the world

Summer reading is one of the season’s great pleasures. Add to your TBR stack from our list of fiction and non-fiction titles exploring Shakespeare, his world, and our own. Happy reading!

One of the books in the Folger collection is extraordinary for both its cover, the War of the Roses binding created by book artist Léon Maillard, and its contents, the Pavier quartos, an early try at publishing a collection of Shakespeare’s plays.

From Ellen Terry to Sir Ian McKellen, Shakespearean actors performing solo shows is a time-honored tradition. Austin Tichenor shares a wide-ranging sampling of one-person Shakespeare shows from the past century.

He’s quoted Shakespeare in numerous speeches, from his first as king to his most recent at the White House during his state visit at the end of April. But Charles III’s interest in Shakespeare goes all the way back to his school days.

A roundup of Shakespeare stories, including discoveries about his only London real estate purchase and family papers; all Shakespeare’s plays ranked as well as video games Shakespeare would love; and actors sharing Shakespeare.

Viewers might be surprised by the number of Shakespearean elements in the miniseries which fictionalizes the doomed relationship between John F. Kennedy, Jr. and his wife Carolyn Bessette. And they’re not all from Romeo and Juliet. 

The acclaimed actor talks about the essential message of love he discovered at the heart of each sonnet while recording all 154 for a new audiobook. He also shares recordings of three of the sonnets, including his favorite one.

One of the most unusual paintings in the Folger collection was originally exhibited at the Boydell Shakespeare Gallery. Explore how British artist George Romney portrayed the “natural genius” of Shakespeare at a time of rising bardolatry.

The reality competition show is, surprisingly, filled with Shakespeare quotes, aesthetics, and symbols. Hosted by Alan Cumming, an actor who knows his Shakespeare, The Traitors transforms Shakespeare into an entire vibe.

We’re celebrating the start of spring with some of our favorite Shakespeare quotes about the season, a time of renewal, rebirth, and new beginnings.

Shakespeare as the creator of heroes is explored in Wonder Man, the newest entry in the vast Marvel Cinematic Universe. Austin Tichenor explores the series’ interest in the power of theater and storytelling over super-powered beings fighting evil.

Recently, on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, Sir Ian McKellen shared a monologue that some believe Shakespeare may have written. We look at the speech, known as The Strangers’ Case, from Sir Thomas More.