Lois Potter

The Life of William Shakespeare is a fascinating and wide-ranging exploration of Shakespeare's life and works, focusing on often neglected literary and historical contexts: what Shakespeare read, who he worked with as an author and an actor, and how these various collaborations may have affected his writing. Written by an eminent Shakespearean scholar and experienced theatre reviewer, this book pays...

Of all Shakespeare's tragedies, Othello, with its issues of racism, jealousy and sexual stereotyping, seems most immediate to contemporary audiences. This work traces Othello's acting tradition as it has affected the roles of Othello, Desdemona, and Iago — demonstrating the emphasis placed on different characters in different countries. It examines various stage and screen versions of the play which reflect...