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The History of Literature

555 What Was Shakespeare Really Like? (with Sir Stanley Wells) | My Last Book with David Ellis

The History of Literature

Jacke Wilson

History, Books, Arts

4.61.2K Ratings

🗓️ 9 October 2023

⏱️ 50 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Shakespeare's plays and poetry are some of the most towering achievements in the history of humankind. What was Shakespeare the person like? How did he work? What made him laugh? In this episode, Jacke talks to Sir Stanley Wells about his new book What Was Shakespeare Really Like? Then David Ellis (Byron: A Critical Life) stops by to discuss his choice for the last book he will ever read. PLUS Jacke continues his journey through the selected poetry of Emily Dickinson, with a look at Poem 204 ("I'll tell you how the Sun rose -"). Help support the show at patreon.com/literature or historyofliterature.com/donate. The History of Literature Podcast is a member of Lit Hub Radio and the Podglomerate Network. Learn more at www.thepodglomerate.com/historyofliterature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0

The History of Literature podcast is a member of the Podglomerate Network and LitHub radio.

0:07.0

Hey folks, it's Jack.

0:11.0

Do you ever find yourself wondering about the little mysteries in life?

0:15.0

Like how refrigeration happened?

0:17.0

Or just how many times did the CIA try to assassinate Fidel Castro anyway?

0:23.0

If you find yourself going down rabbit holes like these, then I recommend a trip to the podcast,

0:29.0

The History of Everything, hosted by history lover Steven Bell and scientist Gabby Bell,

0:35.0

the show dives into all the cool but weird little details that make our world what it is today.

0:41.0

You can count on them to cover literally the history of everything, from potatoes to the crusades.

0:48.0

So don't miss out, listen to history of everything wherever you get your podcasts, and tell them I sent you.

0:55.0

Hello, we start today with a tale of two Englishmen.

0:58.0

For four centuries and counting, William Shakespeare has been included among a small and special group.

1:04.0

Geniuses who spent their time on earth creating works that continue to astonish.

1:10.0

You could rank his plays with the music of Mozart and the art of Michelangelo.

1:15.0

You could line them up with the Egyptian pyramids and the Great Wall of China and the landing on the moon.

1:23.0

Our second Englishman is a man who's lived for almost a century and has spent the majority of those years celebrating Shakespeare,

1:30.0

studying, analyzing, teaching, writing about, lecturing about, and generally elucidating the works of the Great Bard.

1:38.0

We owe a debt to the Shakespeare's of the world, of course, but we also owe a debt, a deep one, to the Sir Stanley Wells's too.

1:47.0

We'll talk to Sir Stanley Wells about his new book.

1:50.0

What was Shakespeare really like today on the history of literature?

2:01.0

Hello, here we go. Welcome to the podcast. I'm Jack Wilson, your host.

2:05.0

I'm glad to be with you today.

...

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