Books

This portrait, painted in 1610, is believed to be the only surviving picture of William Shakespeare painted in his lifetime.

Books
Arts

Why 'Will From Warwickshire' Never Lost His Touch

7:00am April 24, 2016

by Liza Graham

William Shakespeare may have died 400 years ago, but he'll always be there when we need him. The Bard is still a personal friend to actors and casual readers alike, uncannily able to understand us.

Handout picture dated 1997 and released in 2012 by the UN shows ancient manuscripts displayed at the library in the city of Timbuktu. Al-Qaeda has destroyed ancient texts it considers idolatrous.

Timbuktu's 'Badass Librarians': Checking Out Books Under Al-Qaida's Nose

5:30pm April 23, 2016

by NPR Staff

Librarian Abdel Kader Haidara organized a smuggling operation to keep centuries-old manuscripts out of the hands of al-Qaida. Joshua Hammer wrote about it in The Bad-Ass Librarians of Timbuktu.

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In Henry IV, Sir John Falstaff, played by Antony Sher (left), is a rogue and a liar, but he also serves as a mentor to King Henry IV's son, played by Alex Hassell.

Books
Arts

Shakespeare Saw '360 Degrees Of Humanity,' And That's Why He Endures

9:39am April 23, 2016

by Jeff Lunden

From actor David Tennant to artistic director Gregory Doran, Royal Shakespeare Company thespians reflect on the Bard's legacy. Shakespeare is said to have died 400 years ago on April 23.

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Books
Arts

Activist, Professor, Historian — Now A Poetry Pulitzer Prize Winner

9:36am April 23, 2016

Peter Balakian is the author of "Ozone Journal," winner of the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry. Scott Simon talks with Balakian about how the collection has changed since he began writing decades ago.

George Plimpton Reissues Books That Took Us Inside The Game

9:36am April 23, 2016

Seven of the the late George Plimpton's sports books are being re-released. NPR's Scott Simon talks with sportscaster Bob Costas about the collection.

Books
Arts

'Maestra' Is Pure Pulp Madness

7:00am April 23, 2016

by Bethanne Patrick

L.S. Hilton's new book, the first in a trilogy, follows the aptly-named Judith Rashleigh on a wild ride of sex parties, private yachts, and behavior just as shallow and selfish as any male character.

An illustration depicts a scene from Shakespeare's Coriolanus, a play that opens with citizens armed with "staves, clubs, and other weapons" in protest against the city fathers they accuse of hoarding grain. In Shakespeare's day, food shortages tore throu

In Shakespeare's Day, Hunger Tore Through England. His Plays Tell The Tale

7:00am April 23, 2016

by Anne Bramley

Many food riots broke out during Shakespeare's era. Endless rain wiped out crops, and speculators profited (including the bard). The chaos and anxiety around food show up in some of his famous works.

Books
Arts

Flights Of Fancy: Exploring The Songs And Pathways Of 'The Living Bird'

1:31pm April 22, 2016

Wildlife photographer Gerrit Vyn and essayist Scott Weidensaul share bird calls and discuss some of the remarkable abilities of birds. Originally broadcast Oct. 20, 2015.

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Electric Currents And An 'Emotional Awakening' For One Man With Autism

11:27am April 22, 2016

Switched On author John Elder Robison says the emotional empathy he gained after receiving transcranial magnetic stimulation was intense. "It's like I lost a protective shield," he says.

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Manischewitz is closely associated with Jewish tradition, but it was once a huge crossover success. Sammy Davis Jr. was its spokesman in TV advertising. At one point, the typical drinker was described as an urban African-American man.

'Man, Oh Manischewitz': When The Jewish Wine Was Big With Gentiles, Too

11:05am April 22, 2016

by Jessica Leigh Hester

The wine associated with Jewish tradition was once a huge crossover success. At one point, the typical drinker was described as an urban African-American man.