There was no BBC in Shakespeare's time.

August 19, 2014 11:06 AM

Shakespeare's Restless World is a BBC radio series (podcast link) where the director of the British Museum, Neil MacGregor, explores England during the lifetime of William Shakespeare as represented by twenty objects, much in the way of his earlier A History of the World in a 100 Objects (previously). The focus is on Shakespeare's plays and how they were understood by his contemporaries. The series was also published as a book.
posted by Kattullus (11 comments total)

Oh oh! I listened to this whole podcast series over the winter and was so sad when I finished. It's phenomenal and very very interesting. Two thumbs up from me, seems like exactly the sort of thing Mefi would love.
posted by WidgetAlley at 11:21 AM on August 19, 2014

Podcasts! At last something Ira Glass can relate to!
posted by octobersurprise at 11:28 AM on August 19, 2014 [4 favorites]

Somehow this passed me by, so thanks v. much. I loved the 100 Objects and thought it outstanding radio. The BBC-- radio and TV-- is a treasure and something that all Brits should be proud of.
posted by Secret Life of Gravy at 11:44 AM on August 19, 2014

Oh, Kattullus, you devil in my ear! Don't you think I have enough podcasts to listen to?
posted by GenjiandProust at 12:18 PM on August 19, 2014 [2 favorites]

did people talk funny like that guy at BBC back then too?
posted by Postroad at 12:50 PM on August 19, 2014 [1 favorite]

Already fascinated as I listen to the first long podcast (April 6, 2012). Thanks!
posted by bearwife at 1:00 PM on August 19, 2014

We've been listening to this over the past little while as part of our BBC at Bedtime ritual. Good stuff.
posted by alltomorrowsparties at 1:10 PM on August 19, 2014

Very interesting. Thanks, Kattullus!
posted by Kevin Street at 3:43 PM on August 19, 2014

The sad thing (or good thing) about this series is indeed how short it is. I listened to it in one day. Admittedly a day full of cleaning and errands, but it's a very small, self-contained thing, this series. It definitely left me wanting to know more. Of course, that's always the problem with anything regarding Shakespeare. We always want to know more, and yet there are so precious few known-to-be-true facts to go on.
posted by Kattullus at 6:46 PM on August 19, 2014 [2 favorites]

Yes, I listened to this series a while ago, and went through it too quickly. I wish there was more.
posted by PussKillian at 2:57 PM on August 20, 2014

Just chiming in to agree with everybody else — this is great, and it's much too short.
posted by Lexica at 2:04 PM on August 24, 2014