How Shakespeare Changed Everything

Shakespeare is all around us. Nearly four centuries after his death, his literary influence can be felt everywhere in modern society, from nightclubs and suburban mall food courts to voting booths and New York’s Central Park. In How Shakespeare Changed Everything, Esquire columnist Stephen Marche explores the many ways in which the work of this literary giant permeates everyday life. Shakespeare’s influence on history was both profound and pervasive: days before his death, Lincoln read “Macbeth” aloud, the play in which Shakespeare is believed to have introduced the word “assassination;” during World War II, his work was referenced by Churchill, Hitler and Stalin; and he is credited with having coined somewhere around 1700 words, including “fashionable,” “auspicious,” and even the name “Jessica.” Packed with fun and fascinating tidbits, How Shakespeare Changed Everything reveals how the world as it is today it would not exist without the Bard of Avon. Stephen Marche is a novelist who also writes for newspapers and magazines. He currently writes a monthly column for Esquire magazine about culture. Ten years ago, he chose Shakespeare as the subject of his doctoral dissertation because he believed he would never be bored. He was correct. The best gig he ever had was as a professor of Renaissance drama at the City College of New York, which he quit in 2007 to write full time.