Shakespeare's Restless World

[nwhyte]

Another excellent series of podcasts from the BBC, exploring Shakespeare's plays in the wider context of culture, politics and knowledge of the times; twenty 13-minute pieces, all presented by Neil McGregor, the Director of the British Museum, who was such a success with the History of the World in 100 Objects podcast series. The single one which was most useful to me was the one abouit Ireland, making the point that MacMorris is in fact the only Irish speaking character in Shakespeare, though there are plenty of Scots and several Welsh; and many plays have kern or gallowglass hovering round. The second-last episode, on cruelty and torture, is particularly gruesome. But generally an excellent investment of four hours or so of listening.

(And absolutely no mention of the so-called authorship debate!)