Shakespeare: An Introduction (Ideas in Profile)

Paul Edmondson presents Shakespeare afresh as a dramatist and poet, and encourages us to take ownership of his works for ourselves as words to be spoken as well as discussed. We get a sense of what his life was like, his language, and cultural legacy. We catch glimpses of Shakespeare himself, how he wrote, and see what his works mean to readers and theatre practitioners. We see how Shakespeare tackled the biggest themes of humanity: power, history, war, and love.

Paul Edmondson is head of research and knowledge and director of the Stratford-upon-Avon Poetry Festival for The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust.