Shakspeare and His Times

"Shakspeare and His Times" by François Guizot is a historical exploration of William Shakespeare's life and plays within the framework of his era. The book examines the growth of Shakespeare's fame, comparing earlier opinions with current praise of his brilliance. Guizot talks about how dramatic poetry comes from everyday people and how it makes audiences feel things together. He stresses how England's society at the time, after earlier political problems, helped people value the arts. Guizot pictures Shakespeare as someone whose plays changed and were changed by the world around him, while also thinking about how difficult it is to translate his complex English into other languages.