Summary of A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare

A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare: 1599 is a 2005 book by James Shapiro that follows the playwright around in London, providing an account of the events in Shakespeare's life in one extraordinary year - 1599. In this year, four of his great plays, Henry V, Julius Caesar, As You Like It, and the masterpiece Hamlet, were written. Shapiro looks at the staging, attitudes, politics, and theatrical conditions of the time that shape, or even inspire, these plays. He paints a vivid picture of the world that allowed a young playwright to challenge his audience, the theater industry, and the Queen with his daring dialogue. Through his analysis, Shapiro explores what it took to be a successful playwright in Shakespeare's time, while simultaneously providing us with a glimpse into the playwright's mind.