Science and Shakespeare #288

October 24, 2014

This week we're looking at the way science influenced the work of the greatest author in English, and what modern scholars think about its origins. We're joined by journalist and author Dan Falk, to talk about his book "The Science of Shakespeare: A New Look at the Playwright's Universe." And we'll speak to Shakespeare scholar and blogger Stanley Wells, for his perspective on the question of who actually wrote Shakespeare's works.

Guests:

  • Dan Falk
  • Stanley Wells

Guest Bios

Dan Falk

Dan Falk is a science journalist and broadcaster. He's written for Smithsonian, New Scientist, Astronomy, Sky & Telescope, The Walrus, The Globe and Mail, and many other publications. His latest book is called "The Science of Shakespeare", which looks at the Scientific Revolution through the lens of Shakespeare's writing. He's also written two previous popular science books, "In Search of Time" and "Universe on a T-Shirt". Dan has been a regular contributor to "Ideas" on CBC Radio, and has won several international awards for his radio documentaries. He was a 2011 Knight Science Journalism Fellow at MIT. He lives in Toronto.

Stanley Wells

Stanley Wells, CBE, FRSL, Honorary President of The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, is Professor Emeritus of Shakespeare Studies of the University of Birmingham, Honorary Governor Emeritus of the Royal Shakespeare Company, and an Honorary Fellow of Balliol College Oxford. He is General Editor of the Oxford and Penguin editions of Shakespeare and co-editor of the Oxford Companion to Shakespeare. His many books include "Shakespeare for All Time", "Shakespeare & Co", "Shakespeare, Sex, and Love", a Kindle single titled "Why Shakespeare Was Shakespeare", and co-edited "Shakespeare Beyond Doubt", a collection of essays on Shakespeare authorship. His "Great Shakespeare Actors" will be published by OUP in 2015.