To read an interview with Prof.Debra L. Johanyak click HERE

Who was William Shakespeare? Some people believe he never existed as one person but rather many. Others claim that Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford, is the true Shakespeare, or that the earl of Essex, the earl of Derby, or Sir Walter Raleigh, wrote his works. Did he have a family? What influenced his writings? Did he travel? Was he educated? Was one of the greatest literary figures a truly a man of the world?

These are some of the questions that University of Akron Wayne College Professor Debra L. Johanyak explores in her book, Shakespeare’s World.

As the author mentions in the preface to her tome, during the past few years there has been an immense amount of books devoted to Shakespeare, Elizabethan England, the European Renaissance, and New World Colonialism that would probably fill many library shelves. This book combines perspectives from these different realms in a kind of multidisciplinary approach to the study of Shakespeare.

Johanyak recognizes that the fast changing nature of research in any discipline does not respect traditional boundaries between disciplines. Consequently, in order to fully appreciate and understand Shakespeare’s works, it is necessary to understand the world Shakespeare lived in.

The author’s meticulous research has provided the reader with a book filled with colorful and entertaining detail. The book divides itself into several sections dealing with Shakespeare’s life, his poems and plays, performance and criticism, Elizabeth’s England, Shakespeare’s society, Christianity, the Elizabethan social order, the European effect, the Renaissance, Eastern Empires, and Western Worlds. Within these sections readers are exposed to succinct descriptions of many of Shakespeare’s works, and how external factors influenced them.

Thought provoking questions, critical thinking and research project suggestions found at the end of each chapter, as well as the brief summary of the chapter, examine the facts and allow readers to apply what they have learned. These sections together with a comprehensive list of sources and reference texts also serve as guides for further research.

No doubt, our appetite to find out more about Shakespeare’s life, education, and external factors that influenced his writing is to a great extent satisfied. Use of plain informal language makes the reading all the more palatable.

Although the book may have been geared towards students, it will nevertheless prove to be an invaluable tool for anyone who wishes to gain an insightful survey of the world of Shakespeare.

The book undoubtedly enhances our appreciation and understanding of his works, and is an invaluable addition to any collection.