Join Amazon Prime and get unlimited Free First Class Delivery. Already a member? Sign in.

 

or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
   
More Buying Choices
8 used & new from £9.50
Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
In Search of Shakespeare [DVD] [2003]
 
See larger image 
Share your own customer images

In Search of Shakespeare [DVD] [2003]

DVD ~ Ray Fearon
4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
RRP: £19.99
Price: £13.48 & this item Delivered FREE in the UK with Super Saver Delivery. See details and conditions
You Save: £6.51 (33%)
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In stock.
Items for dispatch to UK will be sold by Amazon's Preferred Merchant. (Why?) Gift-wrap available.

7 new from £13.48 1 used from £9.50
Learn about Lovefilm
Amazon's choice for DVD rental.
With a 14 day FREE trial. Learn more

Frequently Bought Together

In Search of Shakespeare [DVD] [2003] + In Search Of Myths And Heroes [DVD] + The Story of India : Complete BBC Series [DVD]
Total RRP: £64.97
Price For All Three: £36.44

Some of these items ship sooner than the others. Show details

Product details

  • Actors: Ray Fearon, Gerald Kyd, Fred Melamed, Robert Whitelock, Michael Wood
  • Format: PAL
  • Language English
  • Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1
  • Number of discs: 2
  • Classification: Exempt
  • Studio: 2 Entertain Video
  • DVD Release Date: 25 Aug 2003
  • Run Time: 240 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B00009PBTJ
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 10,422 in DVD (See Bestsellers in DVD)

    Popular in this category:

    #52 in  DVD > Documentary > History

    •  Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?

Reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
The BBC series In Search of Shakespeare could be the English teacher's most important ally yet. With his typical mixture of intensive research, detective work, boyish enthusiasm and popular appeal, television historian Michael Wood comes closer than anyone to bringing the Bard to life. There are some astonishing discoveries along the way, which help to give a documentary cohesion to Shakespeare's story. But Wood is never arrogant enough to claim to have pinned the playwright's character down. The ifs, buts and maybes are all part of the fascination. The man himself remains tantalisingly just out of reach, which is probably as it should be.

Instead, Wood takes us on an exhilarating journey through Elizabethan and Jacobean England, building a picture of his subject through painstaking reference to the climate of the age: a police state in which Shakespeare's family was devastated by the persecution of Catholics. Social, familial and political influences are all unravelled and pieced together, counterpointed with scenes from the plays--RSC actors conveniently to hand--and the life and times of the travelling actor and playwright are evoked in front of our eyes, becoming tangible and relevant.

Wood gives us the chance to consider the plays in context, products of a great mind living in interesting times, rather than in academic isolation. It's a compelling tale, full of bloody danger, sex, celebrity and social history, and densely packed with layers of detail. Wood's great gift is to tell it in such an accessible way and without the sense of superiority that some of his peers bring to popular history. --Piers Ford

DVD Description
Complete four part series exploring the life of the world's greatest and most famous writer. Presenter-led, mixing travel, adventure, live action interviews and specially shot documentary and live action sequences with the RSC on the road.

A history series - it focuses not on the plays, but on the history and sets the life of the poet in the extraordinary times in which he lived. We are introduced to the dark world of Queen Elizabeth's police state - a time of surveillance, militarism and foreign wars. We are reminded that Shakespeare lived through the Spanish Armada, the Gunpowder Plot, the colonisation of the New World and the beginnings of British power in America. But most importantly Shakespeare also lived through England’s Cultural Revolution: an enforced split with the old medieval English spirit world which was to lead the English people into a brave new Protestant future. A split which defined Shakespeare’s life -and our modern world.

Running time: 240 mins approx.

See all Reviews

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

In Search Of Myths And Heroes [DVD]

In Search Of Myths And Heroes [DVD]

DVD ~ Michael Wood
4.9 out of 5 stars (8)  £12.98
In Search of Shakespeare

In Search of Shakespeare

by Michael Wood
4.6 out of 5 stars (8) 
Shakespeare ReTold [DVD] [2005]

Shakespeare ReTold [DVD] [2005]

DVD ~ Nick Malinowski
4.5 out of 5 stars (23)  £5.98
The Story of India : Complete BBC Series [DVD]

The Story of India : Complete BBC Series [DVD]

DVD ~ Michael Wood
4.2 out of 5 stars (40)  £9.98
Twelfth Night [DVD] [1996]

Twelfth Night [DVD] [1996]

DVD ~ Helena Bonham Carter
4.4 out of 5 stars (30)  £3.98
› Explore similar items

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
Check the boxes next to the tags you consider relevant or enter your own tags in the field below
(1)
(1)
See all 3 tags...

Your tags: Add your first tag
 
See most popular tags
 

Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (7)
4 star:
 (3)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.7 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars As much about the English landscape as about Will, 10 April 2004
By Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
It is more than quarter of a century since Michael, nearly fresh out of Oriel College Oxford, first appeared on our TV screens. Clad in unfusty denim, he hurled himself about the great English outdoors, enthusiastically telling us about Eric Bloodaxe and Co in the BBC series 'In Search of the Dark Ages'.

Since then, Michael has been abroad with 'In Search of the Trojan War', 'In the Footsteps of Alexander the Great', and ... well, you get the general picture.

Now he's back in England -- mostly Warwickshire, Lancashire and London, actually -- and he's ditched the denim in favour of the Barbour 'Bushman' jacket and Karrimor backpack. This four-part programme is as much a celebration of England's landscape and ancient buildings as it is the story of our greatest playwright. The photography is exceptional, the music well-composed, and Michael is always a pleasant companion to escort us around the key sites. We also spend much time in the company of the RSC, as they travel around the more authentic venues to perform excerpts from Othello, Henry IVth Part Two, Romeo & Juliet etc.

There's always latent demand on British TV for Shakespeare insmall, digestible chunks. It is one of the regrets of so many adults that they wished they liked Shakespeare more ... if only it wasn't so much work to appreciate him, compared to 'Friends' etc. Here Michael makes him very digestible. If you could cope with 'Shakespeare in Love', then you can handle this series. The problem for me is that, having now viewed it once, when will I next want to watch it again? Probably in a couple of years' time. This is really a DVD to buy, watch once, and then lend to friends and family.

One intriguing moment: in the College of Arms sequence, William Hunt, who used to run the HAC recruits course, takes Michael through the creation of the Shakespeare coat of arms. For the final shot, Mr Hunt is suddenly wearing his mess kit -- why??

Michael tops and tails each programme with an introduction/summary and a look forward to the next programme. I imagine this is the content that PBS cut out when they reduced the four one-hour programmes to three.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Reason for going multi-Region in US!, 11 Sep 2003
By Jim Blackie "jblackie" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
I never had the pleasure or even the opportunity to view this series on TV. Reading the reviews of the show and being a Shakespeare addist, I knew I had to see this, had to own the set. What with the new multi-region player (bought primarily for this very DVD) and the discs and the postage, this must have cost me $150. Well worth the price! I sat right down and watched it and in 2 sessions, had seen it all.

Beat out my Shakespeare 101 classes at university hands down for interest and content! Not only was the information exciting and (some) new (and perhaps speculative), but the host was engaging, the photography stunning (I am decided I MUST go to England next year!) and the locations fascinating.

You really do owe this to yourself if you have ANY interest in the Bard. If you're in the UK you can own it for pennies on the dollar (shillings on the pound?) than my costs. Highest accolades!

Comment Comment (1) | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Shakey, 26 Sep 2006
By Mr. P. J. R. LEWIS (Llandudno N Wales) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   
There is one thing that we can be certain of Micheal Wood has never produced a dull or uninteresting series.His books on Insearch of The Doomesday Book and Insearch of the Darkages are timeless classics sadly missing on either video and dvd.

To be given your seventh BBc series you can be sure it is quality and appealing to a mass market.Most people are turned off by the works of Shakespeare simply because they had it thrust down them in school and prabably found it booring.

Michael actually visits the very classroom at Stratford where the young William attended and follows his known whereabouts throughout the country chronicling his huge rise to fame.

There are few series as well researched as this one with Woods accademic background shinning through.When someone like him approaches a subject as interesting as this one you are guaranteed of top class entertainment.

This series like all of Woods starts with when Shakespeare was born and into what kind of family background.Remember this is late 16century England with the struggle between Catholicism and Protestantism.

More relevant is that Christopher Marlowe was the biggest playwrite around but when Shakespeare began his rise to fame he outsold Marlowe by a huge margin.Wood takes us to actual public houses with connections to Shakespeare,one in particular that Shakespeare actually performed at and had sell out shows grossing fabulous boxoffice takings.

This series takes us into the seedier underworld of Elizabethan society and also follows around literally The Royal Shakespeare during their rehersals and various plays.
In effect this very interesting series tells us a great deal about Elizabethan life and how Shakespeare became its major celebrity.

You prabably think by taking the time to read my revue its just another boring English Literature lesson but if you want to see one of the most interesting accounts of Shakespeares life then you most certainly will find Michael Woods series a very interesting four hours unlike my revue which has prabably bored you to tears. SORRY
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Another superb series
Another superb series from Michael Wood. Once again, his enthusiam and excellent presentation skills take you on a journey of discovery. Read more
Published 5 days ago by S. P. Turner

5.0 out of 5 stars A Few Hours of Bliss
For anyone with more than just a smidgeon of interest in history, In Search of Shakespeare is a virtual feast. Read more
Published 20 months ago by Viv52

5.0 out of 5 stars Splendid stuff: Michael Wood is the thinking woman's crumpet.
The peerless Dr. Wood (I assume he's got a Ph.D) was my sixth form pin up twenty five years ago when he began his BBC 'In Search of' series. Read more
Published on 16 Aug 2006 by Puskas

4.0 out of 5 stars Poor Johnny One Note
As an introduction to the world in which Shakespeare lived and the known details of his life, this is quite good. Read more
Published on 4 May 2004 by A.K.Farrar

5.0 out of 5 stars Everything you wanted to know about Shakespeare ...and more!
Michael Wood has done it again - and with a subject that has, up until now, been the almost-exclusive property of luvvies and literary anoraks. Read more
Published on 1 Sep 2003

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing
The only reason I watched this program was because of reading the book Romeo and Juliet in High school. Read more
Published on 20 Aug 2003

4.0 out of 5 stars A must for anyone interested in elizabethan england!
We all know who william shakespeare is: a playwrite in elizabethan england. But what else? His life was one big mistery, and lots of it gets explained perfectly in this... Read more
Published on 30 Jul 2003 by FlyingFiddler

Only search this product's reviews


Customer Discussions

 Beta (What's this?)
This product's forum (0 discussions)
  Discussion Replies Latest Post
  No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
  [Cancel]


Active discussions in related forums
   
Related forums

Listmania!

Create a Listmania! list

Look for similar items by category

Feedback

Health & Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

Elemis Resurface and Renew Skin Care Gift Set of 4 Products
From soap to shavers, massagers to mascara, stock up on your daily essentials or truly pamper yourself.

›Discover Health & Beauty

  

Beauty without the Beast

Olay Regenerist Daily 3 Point Treatment Cream
From au naturel to party glam, we have all the best names in cosmetics and skincare.

›Discover Beauty at Amazon.co.uk

  

We've Got Converse

Converse
Stock up on your favourite styles with great deals on Converse shoes.

›Shop Converse

  

Treat Someone

Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificates--available in any amount from £5 to £500 With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is).

›Learn more about Gift Certificates

  
Ad

Where's My Stuff?

Delivery and Returns

Need Help?

Your Recent History

  (What's this?)
You have no recently viewed items or searches.

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.

Look to the right column to find helpful suggestions for your shopping session.
Continue Shopping: Top Sellers

amazon.co.uk Amazon Home
International Sites:  United States  |  Germany  |  France  |  Japan  |  Canada  |  China
Business Programs: Sell on Amazon  |  Fulfilment by Amazon  |  Join Associates  |  Join Advantage
Customer Service  |  Help  |  View Basket  |  Your Account
About Amazon.co.uk  |  Careers at Amazon
Conditions of Use & Sale |  Privacy Notice  © 1996-2009, Amazon.com, Inc. and its affiliates