The Age of Shakespeare

'The greatest literary scholar of his generation' (Independent) explains how the history of the Elizabethan era is the backdrop to William Shakespeare and his plays. Shakespeare made his unique contribution to British and world culture in the midst of Elizabeth's great reign. Here, the circumstances of each play's composition are acutely described, and set within a masterful portrait of Shakespeare's England - its early capitalism, its court, its bursting population, and its epidemics, as well as its arts - including, of course, its theatre. An important, lasting, and concise companion to Shakespeare's time.

Sir Frank Kermode was the author and editor of over forty books, including SHAKESPEARE'S LANGUAGE, THE SENSE OF AN ENDING and ROMANTIC IMAGE. Described by the INDEPENDENT as 'the greatest literary scholar of his generation', he taught at numerous universities including Cambridge, Harvard and University College London. He was knighted in 1991.