James Shapiro

A fascinating portrait of a German village and its controversial Passion Play, which has been held every ten years since the seventeenth century.

Shakespeare's position as England's national poet is unquestionable. But he has long held an essential place in American culture too. Why, though, would a proudly independent republic embrace England's greatest writer? Especially when his works enact so many of America's darkest nightmares: interracial marriage, cross-dressing, same-sex love, tyranny and assassination? Shapiro leads us to fascinating answers and startling stories.