‘Shakespearean is a remarkable book, an illuminating and personal journey that takes us to the heart of Shakespeare’s art and influence. From his account of the plays’ quintessential Englishness to his exploration of what he shrewdly terms their 'negligent ambiguity,' McCrum’s insights are hard-earned and deeply rewarding.’

— James Shapiro

'I can’t think of anything better than listening to Robert McCrum talk about Shakespeare. And this enchanting book is the next best thing - like a gentle chat with a genuine expert.'

— Sir Simon Russell Beale

'Robert McCrum beautifully connects Shakespeare to ourselves in a way I’ve not come across before. I love his curiosity. He seems to live each day as if he’s talked to Shakespeare on the phone that morning. So far, it's the best thing that has happened during lockdown.'

— Michael Grandage, artistic director, the Donmar Warehouse, 2002-2012

'Shakespearean is a brilliant, wise, elegant and profoundly moving book . . . Beautifully written, inspired and inspiring: a captivating portrait of Shakespeare and ourselves.'

— Joanna Kavenna, author of The Ice Museum

‘If you ever had any doubts about the relevance of Shakespeare to the modern world, read this book!’

— Henry Marsh, author of Do No Harm

‘Wonderful and inexhaustibly fascinating.’

— Richard Eyre

‘Wonderful . . . a beautiful personal testament to why Shakespeare continues to matter so much. It is crammed with original insights, and springs equally from a deep knowledge of Shakespeare’s own world and a totally persuasive conviction that his plays speak to our own world, and our own selves, as cogently as they did to the Elizabethans. It is compulsively readable and I loved every page of it.’

— Nicholas Hytner, theatre director

‘Reading Shakespearean was a joy . . . by far the most accessible and erudite contemporary critique evoking with wit and profound insight that conscious (and subconscious) acknowledgement of the degrees to which Shakespeare‘s work continues to influence our cultural and political lives. It is also an essential entertaining book for anyone who like me shares a love of the great man’s plays and sonnets.’

— Don Boyd, film director

‘McCrum writes brilliantly about writing . . . there is much here to stir the blood.’

— The Times

‘Engaging and animated . . . McCrum guides us rather like someone walking through a gallery . . . McCrum's Shakespeare for "times of disruption" is a welcome participant in the contemporary conversation.’

— Rowan Williams, New Statesman

‘Excellent . . . the winning combination of McCrum's own insights and sparkling language lifts Shakespearean to the must-read list . . . an ambitious and exhilarating ride.’

— Daily Mail

‘[McCrum] is adept at drawing parallels between the subject matter of the plays and events of Shakespeare's time. He vividly evokes, for instance, the relevance of Macbeth to the court of King James reeling under the horrific impact of the Gunpowder Plot... This book is the work of an enthusiast. Its subtitle, "On Life and Language in Times of Disruption", points to its topicality. It bears witness to a wide range of reading in Shakespeare scholarship, scrupulously and generously acknowledged.’

— Stanley Wells, Times Literary Supplement

‘A beguiling mix of memoir, literary criticism and biography.’

— the i

‘Combining a loose biographical framework with an autobiographical thread, McCrum covers a lot of ground: setting Shakespeare in his time, examining the plays’ afterlives, looking at historical moments with which the works particularly resonated, and exploring Shakespeare’s use of language. It’s a striking achievement.’

— Irish Times

‘In the wake of a tumultuous time comes Shakespearean, a deeply personal look at the most admired playwright and poet in history. An immensely stylish, entertaining, and informative book. Engrossing.’

— Jay Parini, The Daily Beast

‘Magnificent. McCrum addresses how Shakespeare moves us (from dread to laughter), and how his fearless creativity grew out of his tumultuous era and personal history. Shakespearean is not only thought-provoking but also moving and inspirational. McCrum’s living and breathing book reminds us why the fire of literature warms the soul.’

— Michael Sims, The Washington Post

‘In this biography and literary analysis, McCrum finds plenty of parallels to contemporary events within Shakespeare’s life, poetry, and drama…Shakespeare fans will find this book engrossing, comprehensive, challenging, and thrilling.’

— Booklist, Starred Review

‘Full of close readings and enlightening observations, this is a poignant immersion into ‘Shakespeare’s extraordinary power.’ McCrum delivers an amiable and informed take on Shakespeare’s everlasting impact in this fascinating account that wonders why it is that the Bard ‘live[s] on as one of us, not merely in Britain, but across the globe.’’

— Publishers Weekly

‘Novelist and former editor-in-chief of Faber & Faber, McCrum is a lifelong Shakespeare addict. At the heart of his book—a mix of biography, literary history, and memoir—is a profound pondering: ‘How was it…that he became, and still becomes, Shakespearean?’ Writing in lively, conversational prose, McCrum sets off to find an answer as he weaves his way through his subject’s life and works. His enthusiastic paean is a warm, welcoming place for Shakespeare novices and veterans alike… An affectionate, personal homage to the Bard.’

— Kirkus Reviews