Shakespeare and the Stuff of Life : Treasures from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust

Shakespeare lived and worked in an extraordinary period of change and discovery which can be hard to understand in 21st century. Just as modern audiences connect to the enduring and universal appeal of his plays, so we can connect to objects from his lifetime to illuminate our understanding of his work. This unique book brings together, for the first time, a selection of 50 objects from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in Stratford-upon-Avon.

An accessible and lavishly illustrated object-based exploration of the role and significance of notable paintings, furniture, ceramics, textiles and metal wares in the everyday experience of people living in Shakespearean England, the book will appeal to anyone with a love of Shakespeare. Organised along a simple narrative based on the "Seven Ages of Man" speech from As You Like It, the book reveals how material objects can provide greater insight into such major themes as religious and social change, education, birth, marriage, death, family life, professional and community life.

Published to mark the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare's death in 2016, the book brings Shakespeare's life and times engagingly to life for readers of all ages.

“Effectively captures a snapshot of daily life in the early modern period.” - Jenny Brewer, Helen Hall Lib., USA, Library Journal

"In seven vividly illustrated chapters, which run from 'Birth' and 'Childhood' to 'Professional Life' and 'Older Age,' Shakespeare’s biography unfolds through a series of objects: books, chairs, beds, gloves, cloths, cauldrons, posset cups, and many other artifacts." - Studies in English Literature 1500-1900