First published 2014
James Shapiro examines how Shakespeare became woven into the fabric of American culture from the nation's earliest days. Tocqueville observed in the 1830s that virtually every pioneer's cabin contained Shakespeare's works. Shapiro demonstrates how Americans used the plays to wrestle with their most pressing concerns: revolution, slavery, warfare, and social justice. The book traces this cultural adoption through diverse forms including poetry, fiction, essays, theatrical productions, films, and even comedy routines. Writers from Hawthorne and Melville to Adrienne Rich and Jane Smiley appear alongside actors like Paul Robeson and Marlon Brando, each generation remaking Shakespeare for their times. Shapiro documents landmark moments like Orson Welles's Depression-era productions of Macbeth and Julius Caesar, the creation of West Side Story, and Joseph Papp's establishment of Shakespeare in the Park. Presidents from John Adams to Bill Clinton share their perspectives on Shakespeare's influence. The anthology reveals America's unique relationship with the playwright, including the persistent question of authorship and pilgrimages to Stratford-upon-Avon.
Genres: american, biography-memoir, academic, american-history
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: cultural-adoption, literary-influence
Setting: America, Stratford-upon-Avon
Period: 1830s, Depression Era
724 pages · Hardcover · Library of America