Michael Wood: In Search of Shakespeare 2PK DVD

Comments about PBS Michael Wood: In Search of Shakespeare DVD 2PK:

While the show was produced for an adult audience, it set the stage nicely (no pun intended) for my Shakespeare class.

Comments about PBS Michael Wood: In Search of Shakespeare DVD 2PK:

I use the first episode and a half of this DVD as an introduction to Shakespeare in my 8th Grade Language Arts class, then show the remainder throughout our Sonnet unit and "Romeo and Juliet." Gives a great background/ builds schema for students who know nothing about THE BARD. As interesting as it gets for Shakespearean documentaries!

Comments about PBS Michael Wood: In Search of Shakespeare DVD 2PK:

Great story, great history, but like any great work should have been longer.
Specifically I must have hoped for more discussion about Wood's feelings, play by play, as are discussed by Clare Asquith in her book Shadowplay.
I just hope he also did a book with FOOTNOTES, a responsiblity of any scholar! I can't as yet find it on PBS.
Still, wonderful and so well done!
Tom Nichols in Houston

Comments about PBS Michael Wood: In Search of Shakespeare DVD 2PK:

Michael Wood has given us another view into the world of William Shakespeare using 16th and 17th century documents and government records to trace Shakespeare's life in Tudor London. Will's time growing up in Stratford on Avon his families history, his education and courtship of Anne Hathaway plus his time spent as a young man in London. Michael Wood is an excellent presenter. I have personally enjoyed Wood's previous series, "In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great", "Legacy" and others. Anyone that enjoys the plays are interested in the Tudor and early Stewart era of English Monarchy, the English language or English history should see this series.

Comments about PBS Michael Wood: In Search of Shakespeare DVD 2PK:

As a college teacher, theatre director,and psychotherapist, I find Michael Wood's exploration of the Bard's life much deeper than I expected. His investigation is built on historical records brought to life by visits to 16th century homes, theatres, castles and torture chambers. We see for ourselves documents showing the names of Shakespeare and his father tangled in the laws and politics of the reign of Elizabeth I, plus birth, death, tax records, letters from the Queen's spies, portraits of the individuals involved. His plays are not separate from the daily power struggles of the court, the racial, religious and class prejudice, the wars and economic crises, but illuminate them. Through this video we begin to understand the very active role Shakespeare played, revealing and commenting on Her Majesty's 16th century government even though many a writer was killed for speaking out. You will notice how little has changed in over 400 years. The conflicts then are much the same as in the USA news headlines today.
I plan to buy these dvds for my work.