Shakespeare in a Divided America

Uncover the role that Shakespeare's plays have played in America's tumultuous history in Shakespeare in a Divided America by James Shapiro. Read by almost every student and cherished by both conservatives and liberals alike, Shakespeare's works have served as rare common ground. For over two centuries, presidents, activists, writers, and soldiers have turned to Shakespeare to explore complicated political themes such as race, gender, immigration, and free speech. Shapiro traces the unparalleled role of Shakespeare's tragedies and comedies in American identity and reflects on how they have been weaponized at pivotal moments in history. With extraordinary research, Shapiro shows that Shakespeare has shed more light on hot-button issues in American history and argues that understanding his role in American life may help to mend the country's deeply divided state.