Shakespeare's Notebook : The Life, Times and Works of William Shakespeare

The plays and poetry of William Shakespeare have entertained and enlightened us for more than 400 years. By exploring his life in Elizabethan England, Shakespeare’s Notebook provides a fascinating and detailed picture of the man behind the plays, and the theatrical world he inhabited.

Through his works, contemporary sources and a wide selection of illustrations, this book reveals how Shakespeare’s plays relate to his own roles of husband, father, actor and playwright. It celebrates the enduring legacy of rich language and memorable characters that resonate in many forms today.

Author: Sophie Collins

Warwickshire, West Midlands, London, Greater London, c 1500 to c 1600, c 1600 to c 1700, Biography: literary, Diaries, letters & journals, Literary studies: general, Literary studies: plays & playwrights, Shakespeare studies & criticism, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, Social & cultural history, Gift books

Published on 23 Apr 2026 by The History Press Ltd.