“Stanley Wells commands particular attention. . . .In this new book he surveys with common sense, stylish prose, and the insight that comes from a lifetime of study, all the plays and poems, setting them against what is known of their creator’s life. . . . He is particularly attentive to theatrical values and alludes regularly to modern stage productions.” —
Washington Post
Considering the playwright and his work, the author theorizes that Shakespeare's elusive personality is a result of his supremacy as a dramatist—that he submerged his identity in his characters—and assesses evolving meanings of the plays and poems.