Keynote Lecture: Shakespeare in America

Shakespeare has been a prism through which American issues—revolution, slavery, war, social justice—have been refracted. Drawing upon his recent anthology of writings, Columbia University professor James Shapiro explores how the history of Shakespeare in America is also the history of America itself. Shapiro is the author of 1599: A Year in the Life of William Shakespeare; Contested Will, Shakespeare in America; and The Year of Lear: Shakespeare in 1606. Presented in conjuntion with the museum exhibition First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare. The Museum will be open until 7:00 PM. Cosponsored by the Ilsley Public Library, Middlebury College, and the Vermont Humanities Council. Free