With practical analysis, wonderfully detailed and entertaining interpretations of characters and scenes, and vivid reflections on Shakespeare's theatre and ours, the result is a masterclass of the most enjoyable kind for theatregoers, professionals, students and anyone interested in Shakespeare.

This book was published in hardback as Sweet William: Twenty Thousand Hours With Shakespeare.

'A brilliant and intimate insider's guide to Shakespeare from one of our greatest classical actors' Gregory Doran

'Michael Pennington is a great Shakespearian actor who writes with the authority of an academic. His book analyses the plays, the characters and the playwright's life. It will intrigue, entertain and challenge students, actors and their audiences' Ian McKellen

'Rich and informative, and something that will be mined for many years to come by anyone interested in Shakespeare and in British theatre' Professor James Shapiro

'Shakespeare comes wonderfully to life in Michael's beautifully written book' Rupert Everett

'Irresistibly readable' Peter Brook