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Shakespeare & Beyond

'The magic of his language': Authors Nicole Dennis-Benn, Paul Goldberg, and Elizabeth Nunez share their Shakespeare stories

Three authors talk about the Shakespeare plays they’ve connected with and the way Shakespeare’s stories have influenced their own writing.

Nicole Dennis-Benn

Nicole Dennis-Benn, author of Here Comes the Sun, says her favorite Shakespeare play is The Taming of the Shrew. Watch the video to learn why.

Paul Goldberg

Paul Goldberg writes about Stalinist Russia in his debut novel, The Yid. “The only filter that I could think of that really works is Shakespeare.”

Elizabeth Nunez

Elizabeth Nunez’s latest novel is inspired by King Lear. She’s also the author of Prospero’s Daughter, a retelling of The Tempest. “I’m very much in love with Shakespeare’s work, and I use it to tell my own stories.”

These videos were recorded just before the 28th Annual PEN/Faulkner Celebration, at which the authors read from their own work inspired by the theme of “RISK.”

Do you have a Shakespeare story to tell? Record your own video and share it using #MySHX400. See other videos on our YouTube channel, including ones by Joss Whedon and Jane Smiley.