The plays of William Shakespeare have been enduringly popular in the United States. They are assigned reading in schools, staged in theaters all over the country and embraced by politicians of every stripe. Especially in troubled times, the bard can offer lessons, solace and sustenance, as Professor James Shapiro shows us in his new book, Shakespeare in a Divided America: What His Plays Tell Us About Our Past and Future, which touches on Trump, Me Too and other relevant topics.
Columbia News recently caught up with Shapiro to discuss the book, as well as what’s on his reading list, current Shakespeare projects, who he would invite to a dinner party and how Shakespeare reacted to being quarantined in his own time.
Rest of article.
