Shakespeare's Stage Traffic

This compelling study challenges the romantic myth of Shakespeare as a solitary genius, instead presenting him as a masterful theatrical entrepreneur deeply engaged in the competitive commerce of the Elizabethan stage. Janet Clare meticulously traces how his plays were not born in a vacuum but were actively shaped by a dynamic process of adaptation, imitation, and borrowing from his contemporaries and predecessors. The book reframes his creativity as a form of strategic "traffic"—a constant, savvy exchange of plots, characters, and conventions within the bustling London theater scene. This perspective fundamentally reorients our understanding of the creative process behind the canon.

Clare’s analysis is particularly illuminating for readers fascinated by literary influence and the mechanics of artistic creation, offering a more grounded and historically accurate portrait of the playwright at work. By dissecting specific textual parallels and stagecraft techniques, she reveals a Shakespeare who was a brilliant synthesizer, transforming the raw materials of his time into enduring works of art. This book is essential for anyone ready to move beyond the iconic "Bard" and encounter the pragmatic, resourceful dramatist who thrived on the vibrant, imitative traffic of his professional world.