Shakespeare

This short biography of William Shakespeare by world famous writer Bill Bryson brims with the author's inimitable wit and intelligence. Shakespeare's life, despite the scrutiny of generations of biographers and scholars, is still a thicket of myths and traditions, some preposterous, some conflicting, arranged around the few scant facts known about the Bard -- from his birth in Stratford to the bequest of his second best bed to his wife when he died. Following his international bestsellers 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' and 'The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid', Bill Bryson has written a short biography of William Shakespeare for the Eminent Lives series -- which seeks to pair great subjects with writers known for their strong sensibilities and sharp, lively points of view. Key title / Bill Bryson is famed the world over and he has a massive fan base. / He has been a consistent international bestseller with all of his previous books. / 'A Short History of Nearly Everything' has sold just under 1.2 million copies in the UK alone and 'Notes from a Small Island' has sold 800k. / This eminent life pairs two of the most celebrated and loved writers in the English language. / Competition: James Shapiro, Dominic Dromgoole