Shakespeare's Wars: Conflicting Scholars, Public Fiascos, and Masterful Coups

Shakespeare's Wars presents the mysteries and controversies surrounding the Bard's work. English literature specialist Ron Rosenbaum interrogates experts, examines conflicting documents, and reviews and reworks theories and hypotheses. The American writer goes further by deconstructing beliefs and myths about the most celebrated of English playwrights. Rather than dwelling on biographical details, Rosenbaum blends academic reporting with his own observations in a fascinating and in-depth study. He brings the audience closer to Shakespeare's work by revealing information restricted to scholars, such as the fact that there may have been two King Lears or three Hamlets. The author shows how these divergent versions raise serious questions for all who care about these plays. He describes the battles between the most brilliant directors and Shakespearean scholars and recaptures the sense of enchantment with the Bard's texts. "This book addresses the disagreements over how best to experience Shakespeare's work more deeply, the writer, and his electrifying aesthetic intelligence. I want to bring the reader closer to some genuinely exciting theses about the work, about how best to read, recite, and stage it," says Rosenbaum. The American scholar analyzes the work of famous critics such as Harold Bloom and also accompanies Peter Brook in his search for a hidden play in the genius's tragedies. From the halls of Oxford to the bookshelves of fans, Rosenbaum transforms textual arcana into seductive and, often, sexual arguments.