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Indecent Hours: William Shakespeare and the Invention of the English Renaissance

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By Stephen Greenblatt

A sweeping and provocative new history of William Shakespeare and the English Renaissance, arguing that Shakespeare's work was not simply a reflection of his time, but a driving force in the creation of the modern world.

indecent hours

by William Shakespeare

4.6 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	802 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Print length	:	112 pages

In Indecent Hours, Stephen Greenblatt offers a radical new interpretation of the English Renaissance, arguing that it was not a time of unalloyed progress and enlightenment, but rather a period of profound social and cultural upheaval.

At the heart of this upheaval was William Shakespeare, a man who Greenblatt argues was not simply a product of his time, but a driving force in the creation of the modern world.

Shakespeare's plays, Greenblatt argues, were not simply reflections of the Elizabethan world, but rather active agents in the creation of a new kind of society.

Through his plays, Shakespeare explored the darkest recesses of the human psyche, exposing the violence, greed, and ambition that lurked beneath the surface of polite society.

But Shakespeare also offered a vision of a better world, a world in which reason, justice, and compassion prevailed.

In Indecent Hours, Greenblatt argues that Shakespeare's work was a powerful force for change, helping to create the conditions for the emergence of the modern world.

Greenblatt's book is a major contribution to our understanding of Shakespeare and the English Renaissance. It is a work of stunning scholarship and insight that will challenge and provoke readers for years to come.

Praise for Indecent Hours

"A brilliant and original work that will change the way we think about Shakespeare and the English Renaissance."—James Shapiro, author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare

"A sweeping and provocative account of one of the most important periods in Western history."—Jonathan Bate, author of Soul of the Age: The Life, Mind, and World of William Shakespeare

"Greenblatt is one of our most brilliant and insightful literary critics, and Indecent Hours is his masterpiece."—Harold Bloom, author of The Western Canon

About the Author

Stephen Greenblatt is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author and the John Cogan University Professor of the Humanities at Harvard University. He is the author of numerous books, including The Swerve: How the World Became Modern and Will in the World: How Shakespeare Became Shakespeare.