Ooh, I have that on DVD somewhere, and the book. (The book was a Christmas present request and my parents decided to get me the DVD as well just because.) I liked it, and I liked the bits with the acting company a lot.
It was interesting to read James Shapiro's Contested Will after reading the Michael Wood book though, because from what I remember, there is the assumption in the Wood one that the sonnets at least are autobiographical in content, and it never occurred to me until reading the Shapiro book that it is just that - an assumption.
I've read a number of things about Shakespeare's sonnets, and I think scholars just don't agree on whether they are are autobiographical or not. My undergraduate professor was sure they were not. Me, I think they are - but that's partly because Shakespeare is just so convincing, and I know he can be convincing in a number of voices. On the other hand, if they were not autobiographical, I don't know why he would say some of the things he said - I can't see that anyone other than himself would choose that subject, tone and wording.
I live in the hope that some day we will have more information.
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It was interesting to read James Shapiro's Contested Will after reading the Michael Wood book though, because from what I remember, there is the assumption in the Wood one that the sonnets at least are autobiographical in content, and it never occurred to me until reading the Shapiro book that it is just that - an assumption.
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I live in the hope that some day we will have more information.
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