How Shakespeare Changed Everything

Did you know the name Jessica was first used in The Merchant of Venice ? Or that Freud's idea of a healthy sex life came from Shakespeake? Nearly four hundred years after his death, Shakespeare permeates our everyday lives: from the words we speak to the teenage heartthrobs we worship to the political rhetoric spewed by the twenty-four-hour news cycle. In the pages of this wickedly clever little book, Esquire columnist Stephen Marche uncovers the hidden influence of Shakespeare in our culture, including these fascinating tidbits: Shakespeare coined over 1,700 words, including hobnob , glow , lackluster , and dawn . Paul Robeson's 1943 performance as Othello on Broadway was a seminal moment in black history. Tolstoy wrote an entire book about Shakespeare's failures as a writer. In 1936, the Nazi Party tried to claim Shakespeare as a Germanic writer.... __Esquire__columnist Stephen Marche gives an expansive and exciting look at WilliamShakespeare’s pervasive influence on every aspect of modern culture—showing ushow we can find Shakespeare even where we least expect him. In the spirit ofAlain de Botton’s __How Proust Can Change Your Life__,Marche reveals how Shakespeare’s influence is everywhere—from politics topsychotherapy, broadway to botany, emo teenagers to outrageous baby names, even zoology (didyou know it’s the Bard who is responsible for the starlings terrorizing NewYork City’s Central Park?). Fans of literary trivia and readers of StephenGreenblatt’s __Will in the World__ and Bill Bryson’s __Shakespeare: TheWorld as Stage__ will be captivated by Marche’s artful reading of how everyday can bring a fresh reading of the Immortal Bard of Avon. Esquire columnist Stephen Marche gives an expansive and exciting look at William Shakespeares pervasive influence on every aspect of modern cultureshowing us how we can find Shakespeare even where we least expect him. In the spirit of Alain de Bottons How Proust Can Change Your Life , Marche reveals how Shakespeares influence is everywherefrom politics to psychotherapy, broadway to botany, emo teenagers to outrageous baby names, even zoology (did you know its the Bard who is responsible for the starlings terrorizing New York Citys Central Park?). Fans of literary trivia and readers of Stephen Greenblatts Will in the World and Bill Brysons Shakespeare: The World as Stage will be captivated by Marches artful reading of how every day can bring a fresh reading of the Immortal Bard of Avon. Nearly Four Hundred Years After His Death, Shakespeare Permeates Our Everyday Lives: From The Words We Speak To The Teenage Heartthrobs We Worship To The Political Rhetoric Spewed By The Twenty-four-hour News Cycle. Stephen Marche Has Cherry-picked The Sweetest And Most Savory Historical Footnotes From Shakespeare's Work And Life To Create This Unique Celebration Of The Greatest Writer Of All Time. Stephen Marche. Includes Bibliographical References. Uncovers the hidden influence of Shakespeare in our culture, including these tidbits: Shakespeare coined over 1,700 words, including hobnob, glow, lackluster, and dawn; Paul Robeson's 1943 performance as "Othello on Broadway" was a seminal moment in black history; and, more.