Will and the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare by Stephen Greenblatt

Stephen Greenblatt’s latest addition to his extensive bibliography of British literary criticism is his most accessible and enlightening yet.

In “Will in the World: How Shakespeare became Shakespeare,” Greenblatt tackles the life of one of the most captivating figures in British literature. There are a ton of biographies written about William Shakespeare, but “Will in the World” stands out from the rest because of Greenblatt’s ability to incorporate minute details into the broader framework of the playwright’s work and age.

This revolutionary piece of new historicism situates Shakespeare among the numerous crosscurrents of Elizabethan culture that would have most affected his life and work. He managed to convey the tension between Catholics and Protestants, a very complex issue, without straying from his primary focus. The reader gains an understanding of the conditions that were in place to produce the greatest playwright of the English language. With the ongoing debate regarding the true author of Shakespeare’s works, I found Greenblatt’s logical argument for Shakespeare’s authorship refreshing. It would have been easier to fall in with the revisionists and dissidents. These conditions were then woven logically into the broader context of Shakespeare’s works. Greenblatt managed to illuminate these works from a refreshing and informative perspective.

That said, the book is a bit long. There were several sections that could have been cut without damaging the overall scope of the book. Greenblatt’s attention to detail is impressive, but at times it seems he’s walking the tight rope between academic writing and more accessible, speculative work meant to address the casual admirer.

Still, the book is arranged in such a way that the reader can skim and skip sections, so it’s hardly an issue.

Pick up “Will in the World” for an exciting and informative look at the quintessential playwright in the English language.