The Life and Times of William Shakespeare

A Foundational Work on Shakespeare's Life

The Life and Times of William Shakespeare by Sir Sidney Lee is a landmark of literary biography. First published in 1898, it was the first modern scholarly work to provide a detailed and comprehensive account of Shakespeare's life. At a time when much of Shakespeare's biography was based on legend and assumption, Lee’s book relied on meticulous research and a careful analysis of historical documents to separate fact from fiction. It stands as a foundational text that shaped the course of all subsequent Shakespearean scholarship.

The Man Behind the Legend

Lee’s biography is a thorough chronicle of Shakespeare’s life. It begins with his humble beginnings in Stratford-upon-Avon, his family background, and his marriage to Anne Hathaway. It then follows his journey to London, detailing his rapid rise from an aspiring actor to a successful playwright, poet, and part-owner of the Globe Theatre. The book provides a rich, contextual portrait of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras, giving readers a vivid sense of the vibrant and often dangerous world in which Shakespeare lived and worked. Lee explores the professional and personal relationships that influenced Shakespeare, providing a rare glimpse into the life of a man who left behind very few personal records.

Influence and Scholarly Impact

Upon its publication, The Life and Times of William Shakespeare was a major academic achievement and a commercial success. Lee's research set a new standard for literary biographies, using a rigorous, evidence-based approach that contrasted sharply with the more speculative accounts of the past. While later discoveries and new theories have revised some of Lee’s conclusions, his work remains an essential starting point for understanding Shakespeare’s life. It fundamentally changed the way scholars approached the subject, shifting the focus from hero-worship to serious, documented historical inquiry.