Overview

'A deeply involving, humane book' ROWAN WILLIAMS 'Intimate, humorous, yet profoundly moving' STANLEY WELLS 'Deeply enjoyable' HARRIET WALTER A compelling blend of memoir, travelogue and investigation, Walking Shadow sheds new light on the past while Doran himself emerges from the darkness of loss. After the death from cancer of his husband, Antony Sher, Greg Doran stepped down from his role as artistic director of the Royal Shakespeare Company. In the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s First Folio, and inspired by the surprising history of the company’s own copy, he set out to see how many of these important volumes he could find. Walking Shadow relives the months leading up to Sher’s death, told via the two men’s raw and loving diaries, and maps Doran’s quest to track down folios worldwide. The journey took him to Japan, where Doran met the emperor, and to New Zealand and South Africa where the legacy of Shakespeare has become entwined with the story of colonialism. In Europe, his trip to Frankfurt takes him to the place where the First Folio was initially offered for sale in 1622. While in England, he visits the places where Shakespeare and his actors once walked. Each copy has its own unique features – often visible only to the eagle-eyed – and remarkable tales. By his journey’s end, Doran had seen more than 200 First Folios – over 90 per cent of all the surviving copies – including one whose existence was previously unknown. He had also gained a greater understanding of Shakespeare and his times, as well as his impact on the world.

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9781526694379

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Reviews

One of the most searingly beautiful Shakespeare, love and detective stories ever written -- Anthony Seldon, author and historian A deeply involving, humane book: Greg Doran slowly unwraps the still open wound of bereavement while chronicling with liveliness and wit a long and varied pilgrimage into the heart of the inspiration that fuelled decades of brilliant work. The conversation between Doran and his life-partner, Antony Sher, especially in Sher's last illness, forms a strong, sombre groundbass to the fascinating narrative of Doran's exploration of the varied fortunes of Shakespeare's First Folio: two interwoven loves -- Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury

One of the most searingly beautiful Shakespeare, love and detective stories ever written -- Anthony Seldon, author and historian A deeply involving, humane book: Greg Doran slowly unwraps the still open wound of bereavement while chronicling with liveliness and wit a long and varied pilgrimage into the heart of the inspiration that fuelled decades of brilliant work. The conversation between Doran and his life-partner, Antony Sher, especially in Sher's last illness, forms a strong, sombre groundbass to the fascinating narrative of Doran's exploration of the varied fortunes of Shakespeare's First Folio: two interwoven loves -- Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury Walking Shadow is a book of two parts: the first almost unbearably moving, the second uplifting, as we’re taken on a Shakespearean odyssey to the four corners of the globe. Combined, it explores deep grief, letting go and deciding to live. Magnificent -- Daniel Evans, Co-Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company From the last journey of his husband Antony Sher which he intimately describes, Greg Doran converts his grief into a solo journey, to see as many copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio as possible. He takes us with him across centuries and continents, gathering stories of the eccentrics, scoundrels and scholars into whose hands the Folios fell, speculating about each ink blot, wine stain and possible tear drop that mark the ancient pages. His is the best kind of scholarship, born of true curiosity and openness. A deeply enjoyable and eclectic history lesson with many an anecdotal diversion. Inevitably grief ambushes him at times and then so often it is a quote from Shakespeare that restores him. I can’t think of anyone whose inner resources and particular set of talents better equip them to take on this quest -- Dame Harriet Walter Both Greg Doran and his life-partner, the late Antony Sher, are memorable storytellers — whether recounting (in Sher’s case) his final months, or (in Doran’s) a subsequent and global Shakespearean quest. Drawing on both their voices and journeys, Walking Shadow, in telling of ‘things dying and things newborn,’ is a haunting, uplifting, and beautiful book -- James Shapiro, author of 1599: A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

One of the most searingly beautiful Shakespeare, love and detective stories ever written -- Anthony Seldon, author and historian A deeply involving, humane book: Greg Doran slowly unwraps the still open wound of bereavement while chronicling with liveliness and wit a long and varied pilgrimage into the heart of the inspiration that fuelled decades of brilliant work. The conversation between Doran and his life-partner, Antony Sher, especially in Sher's last illness, forms a strong, sombre groundbass to the fascinating narrative of Doran's exploration of the varied fortunes of Shakespeare's First Folio: two interwoven loves -- Rowan Williams, former Archbishop of Canterbury Walking Shadow is a book of two parts: the first almost unbearably moving, the second uplifting, as we’re taken on a Shakespearean odyssey to the four corners of the globe. Combined, it explores deep grief, letting go and deciding to live. Magnificent -- Daniel Evans, Co-Artistic Director of the Royal Shakespeare Company From the last journey of his husband Antony Sher which he intimately describes, Greg Doran converts his grief into a solo journey, to see as many copies of Shakespeare’s First Folio as possible. He takes us with him across centuries and continents, gathering stories of the eccentrics, scoundrels and scholars into whose hands the Folios fell, speculating about each ink blot, wine stain and possible tear drop that mark the ancient pages. His is the best kind of scholarship, born of true curiosity and openness. A deeply enjoyable and eclectic history lesson with many an anecdotal diversion. Inevitably grief ambushes him at times and then so often it is a quote from Shakespeare that restores him. I can’t think of anyone whose inner resources and particular set of talents better equip them to take on this quest -- Dame Harriet Walter

One of the most searingly beautiful Shakespeare, love and detective stories ever written -- Anthony Seldon, author and historian

Author Information

Greg Doran has been described as ‘one of the supreme Shakespeare directors of our era’ (Financial Times). He joined the Royal Shakespeare Company as an actor in 1987 and was its artistic director from 2012 to 2022. He has directed and/or produced every single play in the First Folio of Shakespeare’s plays at Stratford-upon-Avon. He was awarded the Sam Wanamaker Prize for pioneering work in Shakespearean theatre in 2012. He was knighted for services to the arts in 2024.

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