Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Published on the occasion of the four-hundredth anniversary of Shakespeare's death,
Royal Shakespeare is an innovative addition to Shakespeare studies. This book, enriched with over two hundred color illustrations, approaches its subject from a new and fascinating perspective: the centuries-long role Shakespeare has played in royal life as a source of inspiration, entertainment, and creative expression.
Drawing on the Royal Collection's outstanding collection, Royal Shakespeare offers readers a front-row seat for the most enthralling stories about the associations between the British monarchy and Shakespeare. From Elizabeth I's famously heated and controversial identification with Shakespeare's poetic king, Richard II, to Charles II and Nell Gwynne's use of The Tempest as a secret romantic code; from Victorian royal family Shakespeare stagings under the direction of Prince Albert to Prince Charles's rendition of Prince Hal alongside a company of professional actors, this engaging study celebrates the British royal family's connection to and appreciation for Britain's best-loved dramatist.