A follow-up to 1599 and in the same vein of a biography of Shakespeare based on one year in his life. Things have changed quite a lot in the 7 years since. James VI and I has acceded to the throne and survived the Gunpower Plot of 1605. He is trying to unite his Scottish and English kingdoms, but meets resistance from parliament and his subjects. Plague is an ever-present menace, which periodically shuts down the London theatres. The threats abroad from Spain and Ireland have waned compared to Elizabeth's reign; but there is a toxic distrust of Catholics at home.
1606 was the year in which Shakespeare wrote three tragedies: King Lear, Macbeth, and Antony and Cleopatra. Shapiro shows again how each play reflects the historical and political context; and how Shakespeare rewrites his source texts. Both Shapiro and Shakespeare are masters in command of their materials.
Another very readable book but one with slightly less of Shakespeare;s life in it than 1599. The best chapter was about the loaded word "equivocation", but I also really enjoyed Shapiro's accounts of the court masques and the lads' holiday when King Christian of Denmark came to visit for a few weeks in the summer. It sounded like a debauched time with lots of drinking and swiving. It's also amusing to hear that Christian wanted to play sports but James refused because he was crap and bored his guest by going hunting instead. Methinks Christian overstayed his welcome.
The result is a humanizing of Shakespeare, showing his works growing out of the fertile ground of their sources and context. A much darker book than the last one, but no less informative.
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