Book · 2020 · Shakespeare, william, 1564-1616, criticism and interpretation
Shakespeare in a Divided America
Why people recommend it
Shakespeare in a Divided America is a non-fiction book by James Shapiro that examines how various political and cultural factions in the United States have weaponized Shakespearean plays to fight contemporary culture wars. On The Book Review podcast episode titled David Mitchell's Vast and Tangled Universe, broadcast on July 18, 2024, Greg Coles discussed reading the book, which had been published earlier that same year, and officially recapped the title for the segment. Later, in the episode Talking About the 10 Best Books of 2020, host Gilbert Cruz introduced the volume as another book about writing in its own unique way, handing the discussion over to senior editor Greg Coles to elaborate on its significance. Both speakers highlighted the timeliness and cultural resonance of Shapiro's exploration, showing how canonical literature frequently reflects the deepest ideological fractures within American society. Through these podcast appearances, the book received thoughtful engagement, positioning it as an essential read for anyone interested in the intersection of literature, history, and modern sociopolitical debate.
Who recommended it
- Greg Coles Recommended
- Gilbert Cruz Discussed
Greg Coles — 2 mentions
“I'm reading a book that came out earlier this year by James Shapiro called Shakespeare in a divided America”
“I'm reading Shakespeare in a divided America by James Shapiro”
Gilbert Cruz — 1 mention
“the next book also a book about writing in its way is Shakespeare in a divided America by James Shapiro and to talk about that senior editor Greg Kohl's”
Also mentioned in the same episodes
Other mentions (4: passing, ad reads, own books)
“he had a couple of books I think in between this and a previous book that he edited for the library of America called Shakespeare and America”
“he had a couple of books I think in between this and a previous book that he edited for the library of America called Shakespeare and America”
“this new book is called Shakespeare and a divided America and and that book was a collection of pieces looking at similarly the reception of of Shakespeare in America from 1776 to the present day”
“it was reviewed in the book review by James Shapiro the author of Shakespeare in a divided America which was one of our top 10 books of 2020”