In The Moment ... March 12, 2020 Show 772 Hour 2
In times of strife and division, sometimes it's best to turn off the social media and turn to some of the greatest works of literature and drama in history. After all, for centuries conservatives and liberals, lawyers and soldiers, students and activists have all turned to the works of William Shakespeare when grappling with the most complex issues of the day.
Now a new book explores those stories in-depth through impeccable research and thoughtful narrative. The book is called "Shakespeare in a Divided America: What His Plays Tell Us About Our Past and Future." The author is James Shapiro. He is the Larry Miller Professor of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University. He serves on the board of directors of the Royal Shakespeare Company and is the Scholar in Residence at the Public Theater in New York City.