A Study of Shakespeare

"A Study of Shakespeare" by Algernon Charles Swinburne is a close look at how Shakespeare's writing changed over time, especially his poetry and use of different writing patterns. This book comes from a time when people were questioning if Shakespeare really wrote all the plays attributed to him. Swinburne explains that he wants to examine how Shakespeare’s style and the way he put words together developed during different parts of his life. The author uses the idea of Shakespeare’s collected works being like a mysterious ocean, showing how difficult it can be to truly understand and study literature in the late 1800's. Swinburne’s plan is to break down Shakespeare’s works into three sections, each having a distinct writing styles, so the author can track the growth of a legendary writer.