On January 10, 2016, I set out to read the complete works of William Shakespeare – every last iamb thought to come from his quill – in 2016. I didn’t technically finish before 11:59:59 on December 31, but the spirit of my goal, I trust you’ll agree with my just-off-new-year start date, was to tackle the Bard’s oeuvre in one year. That I did, and with a few days to spare. On January 5, 2017 at 2:59pm, I read the word “queen,” the final word of The Reign of Edward III, which many editors think Shakespeare wrote in part.
I stood up from the couch in the basement guest room of my dad’s house in Cincinnati, fist pumped, and then collapsed on the (delightfully soft) carpet. I felt relieved. I felt proud. I felt excited and freed to read something not-Shakespeare.
Like science fiction. I looked over at a stack of books in my suitcase. On top was Station Eleven (2014) by Emily St. John Mandel, which my stepfather gave it to me. It’s set in a post-apocalyptic world and follows a troupe called the Traveling Symphony, which primarily performs…Shakespeare. I’ll never get away from the Bard. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I’m back in Dublin on Monday, when I’ll be writing up my remaining posts on Henry VIII, Romeo and Juliet, Hamlet, various poems including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece, and Edward III. I may be finished reading, but I’m not finished writing – and I’m certainly not finished with Shakespeare.
Thanks for following along, and stay posted for much, much more.
Shakespeare Confidential 
It’s a horribly over-used word nowadays, but your achievement is, actually, ‘amazing’.
And I think you’re absolutely correct – there are far far worse things than ‘seeing Shakespeare’ wherever you go or read.
Congratulations.
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Wow, thank you very much! I can’t lie: I really enjoy walking to the Shakespeare section of bookstores, sizing up the shelf, and proudly declaiming, “I’ve read all you.”
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Top man. Well done. I’m eager to see what you’ve got left to say. Top man.
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Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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You’ll like Station Eleven! Well done! 🙂
Jennifer
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Thank you! 100pp in and already loving it.
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Thank you! You inspire me to read Will from beginning to end!
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Go for it! It’s worth the effort. I wouldn’t say, though, they you have to confine yourself to my arbitrary time limit of one year!
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Wow! I consider myself a Bardinator but there a few plays of Will’s I just can fathom reading *squeamish* King Lear has its moments as it is. Congrats!🍾🎈🎊
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