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Book Review By David Loftus
Acting Shakespeare by John Gielgud

In this book Sir John Gielgud, one of the masters of the 20th century British stage, focuses primarily on his work acting in and directing various productions of Shakespeare. His career spanned from the early 1920s to the title role in Peter Greenaway's 1991 film "Prospero's Books." Gielgud not only acted alongside Laurence Olivier, Peggy Ashcroft, Edith Evans, Ralph Richardson, Claire Bloom, Cyril Cusack, Anthony Quayle, and Robert Shaw, but directed productions that starred many of these renowned players. He also talks about other Shakespearean performers he saw on stage, including Charles Laughton, John Barrymore, and Orson Welles. Part autobiography, part essay on acting and Shakespeare's ability, this 1991 book is a gentle, easy read.


Plot & Themes
job/profession:
Job/profession/poverty story Yes
Period of greatest activity? - 1900+

Subject of Biography
Gender - Male
Profession/status:
Ethnicity - White
Nationality - British

Setting
Europe Yes
European country: - England/UK
Century: - 1930's-1950's

Writing Style
Book makes you feel? - encouraged
Pictures/Illustrations? - A ton 16-20 B&W
How much dialogue in bio? - significantly more descript than dialog
How much of bio focuses on most famous period of life? - 76%-100% of book
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