Shakespeare’s Life and World (2004 Folio Society edition) by Katherine Duncan-Jones is a richly detailed and visually sumptuous exploration of the Bard’s era, blending biography, history, and literary analysis. Duncan-Jones, a renowned Shakespeare scholar, delves into the playwright’s Stratford-upon-Avon roots, his meteoric rise in Elizabethan London, and the cultural upheavals (plague, political intrigue, theatrical rivalries) that shaped his works.
The Folio Society edition enhances this scholarly journey with luxurious production: full-cloth binding, gilt detailing, and a wealth of period illustrations—engravings, portraits, and maps of Tudor England—that immerse readers in Shakespeare’s milieu. Duncan-Jones’ prose is both authoritative and accessible, debunking myths (e.g., the “lost years”) while illuminating lesser-known facets of his genius.
A must-have for bibliophiles and Bard enthusiasts, this volume marries rigorous research with the artistry of fine bookmaking.
