William Shakespeare: A Critical Study

What it is

This is a two-volume critical biography of William Shakespeare written by the Danish critic Georg Brandes, published in 1898. It was originally written in another language and translated into English by several collaborators, with the proofs checked by Brandes himself.

Why it matters

Brandes's study is an example of how Shakespeare's life and works were examined seriously by scholars across Europe centuries after his death, treating him as a major figure of world literature rather than only an English one. It reflects the growth of Shakespeare studies as an international field.

Look closer

• Why might a Danish critic take a special interest in an English playwright who had died centuries earlier?
• What might change in meaning or tone when a book like this is translated by several different people?
• What questions would you want answered about how much of Shakespeare's actual life the author could really know?