Shakespeare and Modern Culture    by Marjorie Garber Order:  USA  Can Pantheon, 2008 (2008) Hardcover, e-Book Read an Excerpt      Reviewed by Ricki Marking-Camuto Literary fans of Shakespeare will delight in Marjorie Garber's Shakespeare and Modern Culture, which delves in-depth into ten of the Bard's most famous plays, and explains how they relate to today's world. While her book is not light reading, Garber offers a wealth of history and insight on The Tempest, Romeo and Juliet, Coriolanus, Macbeth, Richard III, The Merchant of Venice, Othello, Henry V, Hamlet, and King Lear. Each chapter is devoted to a single play and discusses how its main theme translates in today's society, making what is sometimes thought of as lofty literature more accessible to modern readers. Garber has done extensive research in writing Shakespeare and Modern Culture and it shows. As her work is written far above the standard reading level, it is not material that any casual reader would just pick up and enjoy, but it is a must for scholars of the Bard who want to dig deeper into his plays. Personally, as I am currently directing a play comprised of scenes from Shakespeare and about how they can still appeal to audiences today, I am finding Shakespeare and Modern Culture indispensible in my research. Note: Opinions expressed in reviews and articles on this site are those of the author(s) and not necessarily those of BookLoons. Find more NonFiction books on our Shelves or in our book Reviews