Kindle
$9.99
Available instantly
Audible Logo Audiobook
$0.00
with membership trial
Paperback
$14.41
Audio CD
from $24.04
Buy new:
-28% $14.41
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Ships from: Amazon.com
Sold by: Amazon.com
$14.41 with 28 percent savings
List Price: $19.99

The List Price is the suggested retail price of a new product as provided by a manufacturer, supplier, or seller. Except for books, Amazon will display a List Price if the product was purchased by customers on Amazon or offered by other retailers at or above the List Price in at least the past 90 days. List prices may not necessarily reflect the product's prevailing market price.
Learn more
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Tuesday, May 14 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 10. Order within 15 hrs 22 mins
In Stock
$$14.41 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.41
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Ships from
Amazon.com
Ships from
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Sold by
Amazon.com
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Returns
Eligible for Return, Refund or Replacement within 30 days of receipt
This item can be returned in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt.
Read full return policy
Payment
Secure transaction
Your transaction is secure
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
Payment
Secure transaction
We work hard to protect your security and privacy. Our payment security system encrypts your information during transmission. We don’t share your credit card details with third-party sellers, and we don’t sell your information to others. Learn more
$7.55
Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime FREE Returns
FREE delivery Wednesday, May 15 on orders shipped by Amazon over $35
Or fastest delivery Friday, May 10. Order within 15 hrs 22 mins
Only 4 left in stock - order soon.
$$14.41 () Includes selected options. Includes initial monthly payment and selected options. Details
Price
Subtotal
$$14.41
Subtotal
Initial payment breakdown
Shipping cost, delivery date, and order total (including tax) shown at checkout.
Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Follow the author

Laura Bates
+ Follow
More books from this author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.

Shakespeare Saved My Life Paperback – April 2, 2013

by Laura Bates (Author)
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,033 ratings
See all formats and editions
{"desktop_buybox_group_1":[{"displayPrice":"$14.41","priceAmount":14.41,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"14","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"41","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"DrivN6QumuR5lHxwHSW8Fi4t3LhHR9QjYVIBgZ3qrs%2FD7e6HvfNzzA1sB60Uu7VcROAC2UpkMNuGhglb4%2B6QS%2B2%2FCmz2Kd1rWDGtXvPxQK5fAv9g%2FFI7halX4cmsSbNCwpWUI8aYELYFpElLLBdl2A%3D%3D","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"NEW","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":0}, {"displayPrice":"$7.55","priceAmount":7.55,"currencySymbol":"$","integerValue":"7","decimalSeparator":".","fractionalValue":"55","symbolPosition":"left","hasSpace":false,"showFractionalPartIfEmpty":true,"offerListingId":"DrivN6QumuR5lHxwHSW8Fi4t3LhHR9QjkYGitVi9KcelzC9HY8NmEV5WsFEfNyvawAABFrQpdhPomkZgWBZIeVJi3Zrkh5vyRUj5eVVu%2BTksSadnJwWPhGVrNUkl64zegLZofjS80oIHH3ZvZEis15DSD5LLex5tIzgwQBr3tBYENwMoMlok9XGpVVR8VJgW","locale":"en-US","buyingOptionType":"USED","aapiBuyingOptionIndex":1}]}

Purchase options and add-ons

A female professor, a super maximum security prisoner, and how Shakespeare saved them both

In this captivating memoir, Shakespeare professor and prison volunteer Laura Bates takes us on an extraordinary journey through the darkest corners of incarceration, where she shares the incredible story of a prisoner's redemption through the timeless words of William Shakespeare.

Shakespeare Saved My Life is a riveting testament to the transformative power of literature, showcasing how the universal themes of love, betrayal, forgiveness, and redemption resonate even in the harshest of circumstances. Bates's poignant narrative highlights the resilience of the human spirit and the potential for personal growth, no matter the circumstances.

With its masterful blend of gripping storytelling and literary analysis, this book offers a unique perspective on Shakespeare's enduring relevance. It provides an illuminating exploration of the Bard's works as a catalyst for personal introspection, self-discovery, and emotional healing.

Ideal for both Shakespeare enthusiasts and those interested in the transformative power of literature, Shakespeare Saved My Life is a must-read memoir that celebrates the redemptive power of words and serves as a powerful reminder of the universal human connection that literature can forge.

What readers are saying about Shakespeare Saved My Life:

"I was tremendously moved by both the potential impact of Shakespeare and learning on human beings and the story of this one man."

"This is one of the most extraordinary books I've ever read."

"I have never read a book that touched me as much as this memoir."

"It is a challenging and remarkable story."

"I loved this book so much. It changed my life."

What reviewers are saying about Shakespeare Saved My Life:

"You don't have to be a William Shakespeare fan, a prisoner, or a prison reformer to appreciate this uplifting book. "Shakespeare Saved My Life" also reveals many important truths ... about the meaning of empathy in our dealings with others"―Finger Lake Times

"Shakespeare Saved My Life touches on the search for meaning in life, the struggles that complicate the path to triumph and the salvation that can be found in literature's great works ... An inspiring account."―Shelf Awareness

"Opening the mind's prison proves enormously gratifying, not to mention effective ... brave, groundbreaking work"―Publishers Weekly

"An eye-opening study reiterating the perennial power of books, self-discipline, and the Bard of Avon."―Kirkus

"A powerful testament to how Shakespeare continues to speak to contemporary readers in all sorts of circumstances."―Booklist

Read more Read less
Previous page
  1. Print length
    304 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Sourcebooks
  4. Publication date
    April 2, 2013
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.76 x 8 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    1402273142
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1402273148
  8. See all details
Next page
Best True Crime Books
The top True Crime books curated by Amazon Book Review Editor, Chris Schluep. See his picks.

Frequently bought together

Shakespeare Saved My Life
$14.41
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
+
Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption
$11.06
Get it as soon as Tuesday, May 14
In Stock
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Details
Added to Cart
Choose items to buy together.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

From breaking out to breaking through, that’s what reading Shakespeare did for Indiana federal prison inmate Larry Newton, who was locked in solitary confinement for more than 10 years. His story is recounted by English professor Bates, who taught the “Shakespeare in Shackles” class that gave Newton, convicted of murder as a teenager, his new lease on life. Bates describes the program, but the core of the text is given over to Newton as he poses challenging questions from Shakespeare’s works about such topics as honor, revenge, and conscience, forcing prisoners to consider their own actions in a new light. Macbeth and Hamlet are the primary targets of examination, but the inmates take fresh approaches to several plays. The short chapters are like Bates’ glimpses into the cells through cuff boxes. It’s clear she is impressed with Larry, and while his work is remarkable, it’s also repetitive. But the journey he makes and the impact it has on Bates herself combine to form a powerful testament to how Shakespeare continues to speak to contemporary readers in all sorts of circumstances. --Bridget Thoreson

Review

"Wonderful… well written, easy to follow, and hard to put down. My hope is that this book will make people understand that education can change lives." ― Sue Jones, Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane, WA

"This is an amazing story, beautifully told...I'm still reeling from the power of the ending." ― Anne McMahon, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee WI

"A transformative journey for students and teacher alike. ... An eye-opening study reiterating the perennial power of books, self-discipline and the Bard of Avon." ― Kirkus Reviews

"Shakespeare Saved My Life touches on the search for meaning in life, the struggles that complicate the path to triumph and the salvation that can be found in literature's great works ... An inspiring account." ― Shelf Awareness

"Readers will find much to be inspired by and optimistic about in Bates’s book" ― PopMatters

"You don’t have to be a William Shakespeare fan, a prisoner, or a prison reformer to appreciate this uplifting book. "Shakespeare Saved My Life" also reveals many important truths ... about the meaning of empathy in our dealings with others" ― Finger Lakes Times

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks; Uncorrected Readers Copy edition (April 2, 2013)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1402273142
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1402273148
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.5 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.76 x 8 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 1,033 ratings

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Laura Bates

Laura Bates

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.
Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Discover more of the author’s books, see similar authors, read author blogs and more

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
4.4 out of 5
1,033 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Kate
5.0 out of 5 stars Riveting
Reviewed in the United States on July 10, 2023
Verified Purchase
As someone with a Master’s degree in English and creative writing, who has dabbled but never truly delved into Shakespeare, including watching multiple lectures on his plays through Great Courses @, I found this book absolutely riveting. By focusing the story on this one man and their journey together through Shakespeare’s plays, the work he did, the self-reflection, the insight, and analysis while correlating it back to himself and modern life made this a truly riveting read. I was deeply saddened to learn that Indiana chose to cut off access to education for him, and for so many others, when clearly it was working. I know how much my journey through my education changed me, through analysis, self-reflection, and insight that I would wish this for everyone, especially for those already isolated both by society and their own self-perceptions. I would recommend this read to anyone but maybe especially to educators, criminologists, psychologists, and those writing policy on our nation’s prison systems.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Chazza Everafter
4.0 out of 5 stars Insightful and Interesting Read
Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2016
Verified Purchase
This was an insightful read about on the rehabilitation of supermax prison inmates through the reading of Shakespeare's plays. It narrows its focus on the Shakespeare professor (Laura Bates)'s experience teaching Shakespeare to prisoners, and in particular, delves deeply into the relationship her pupil, Larry Newton, develops with the work of the Bard.

As an English major who studied the works of Shakespeare and as a long time fan of seeing the plays performed on stage, I don't know what compelled me to pick this one up. I found the idea intriguing of educating prisoners with this kind of academically rigorous programming. Personally, I recall struggling to make sense of some of the plays, some of the language. I remember how long it would take me to read one play (and we needed to read one a week) and yet I was surprised to find that some of the insights her students never would have crossed my mind. I never thought to approach the work in the ways they have. Instead, I mined the works of scholars and read over the hundreds of tiny print footnotes at the bottom of every page in my enormous Complete Works of William Shakespeare. But I never, not once, used the Bard's words as a way to examine my own life, and my own motivations.

Larry Newton, a man convicted of murder and serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole, challenged all the stereotypes I carried in my head about prisoners. His experience is a testament to the power of Shakespeare's work and that of equipping all people, including the incarcerated, with education. Though I realize education--much like religion--may not impact everyone to the degree in which it inspired change for Newton, I think it can be very hard to engage with something so intimately and not walk away without having gained something valuable. Like those old TV commercials: the more you know...

Some of the questions posed by the book, including 'should prisoners have access to education' and 'if so, who should pay for it' really invite opportunities for further reader engagement. I don't have any hard and fast answers, but I certainly find the question interesting! Guess you'll have to decide for yourself.

As a cool sidenote: I did recognize the name of one of my own university professors in this book, and I was really excited to see that she's done some work within this field as well. I may go on to read her book someday, too.
10 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Purgandi Dracointerfectorem
5.0 out of 5 stars Brings a little light into an otherwise dark issue. Well worth the read!
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2017
Verified Purchase
I am in a book club comprised of professors; that is great for me, as they are generally 20 years my senior and have so much life experience and wisdom to share. That wisdom brought the club to choose this book; otherwise I would not have read it, and that would have been a loss.

How do we reach people who may believe that they have done something so horrible that they cannot be redeemed, or that nobody would understand? Shakespeare is full of characters who lack character. There are characters that anyone can relate to, whether they feel misunderstood, have done something that they are ashamed of, or fit the description of a true scoundrel. At least, through Shakespeare, we all join the human race, rather than being something "sub-human." That does not mean that being that way is celebrated; being able to talk about these things and the devastating things that people do to one another is a start in being able to talk about being better than that.

We have a problem with the high incarceration rates in our country. This has been made even worse by states that now have a private prison industry that locks people up for profit, so of course, rehabilitation is not a goal as it would lower profit. This can be a difficult topic to address, because we do struggle with crime and violence and still have a lot of work to do to come up with better solutions. This book is approachable; it allowed me to look at these issues without having to look away. The true horrors that we have in some of our prisons, particularly the private ones but others as well, are too overwhelming for me. This book was just right.

Interestingly, it is not just Shakespeare, but other literature that can change a person who is incarcerated. Those of us who love books do feel touched and changed by particularly good books at times. Why would we doubt that the same is true for someone who is incarcerated? Right now I am thinking of the documentary called "Fear of 13" that tells the story of Nicholas Yarris, who also found his opportunity to grow and change through books. One of my children is a Shakespeare scholar, and I can't wait for him to read this book! He isn't as keen on the idea and has been letting it sit. I understand; the topic makes us uncomfortable. If it is making you uncomfortable, that's ok. Be all right with that feeling, and read the book anyway. It is a story that is worth the telling, and worth hearing. Enjoy it.
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Lucy Lu Manner
5.0 out of 5 stars insightful and informative
Reviewed in the United States on November 6, 2023
Verified Purchase
Thank you for writing a book about your experience in a world of mystery to someone thankfully not exposed to prison life
Helpful
 Report
eve Kramer
3.0 out of 5 stars interesting read
Reviewed in the United States on January 15, 2020
Verified Purchase
while i am not a fan of shakespeare, i am found this story enlightening, interesting, disturbing and fascinating. it is amazing what can be done with the right people on both sides of the aisle. ugly picture of the prison system which was necessary to realize the importance of having a professor who cares about who you are and saw poetry is some of the people behind the bars.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

david gamble
5.0 out of 5 stars "Shakespeare Saved My Life" to restart your heart
Reviewed in Canada on May 31, 2015
Verified Purchase
Laura Bates' memoir of her relationship with life-sentenced prisoners uses her teaching of Shakespeare to expose a disturbing depth and range of human experience in the most extreme conditions. We meet a literature prof with the allegedly most hardened incarcerated convicts. Shakespeare lovers will appreciate the book for its use of the bard, but note that the book is not about Shakespeare but about the best and worst of who we are. The fit is perfect, for that's Shakespeare's writing about humanity. The match is compelling.
Dr. Bates challenges us to think deeply about who we are and how we treat the most marginalised among us, even those who have done us wrong. She encourages us to have faith in the potential for goodness of the most 'dangerous' in our society, or more particularly one supremely intelligent and wise inmate. It becomes a lesson in humility for us all, so much a needed quality in this increasingly violent world. The genius of focal student, intelligent intellectually and emotionally, is set brilliantly against the bureaucratic horror of the penal system where a man can be in solitary confinement for ten years. While Dr. Bates never makes excuses for the wrongs of the criminals and never denies the need for discipline and control of the prisoners, her appeal for rehabilitation simply in the cause of humanity with her indefatigable energy speaks for itself. Her students are human beings who rediscover their souls through her inexhaustible commitment.
So, it is a story of triangulation. The prof, the students and the system. At first it would seem that her opposites would be the students in the context of a system. It becomes apparent that the prof and students become humanity and the system becomes place of concrete and iron, physically and bureaucratically. While some personnel do their best in a hard situation, there are others for whom Dr. Bates implies criticism. For those, perhaps as an extreme analogy I would suggest Hanna Arendt's "Eichmann in Jerusalem" as the corporate mindset allows little room for anything that is not dehumanised. I couldn't help being appalled by the conclusion. While my analogy may too strict, I remember that within the system there are those who do have faith and Dr. Bates is allowed to work. We are not completely dead yet.
The book is a book of the spirit, probably the most poignant (apart from The Elegance of the Hedgehog, a fiction) text I have ever read. A book that presents exceedingly brutal, torturous conditions, lifts one beyond the gloom and restores some faith in the potential of those that fight for good. On a small scale, I would put her in with the students of Martin Luther King, Tommy Douglas and others who followed their spiritual core no matter what. She is heroic, but no superhero with a silly outfit, just an ordinary woman using an unusual context in which she finds herself to do right and exercise her faith in humanity, never blaming or condemning, just fighting for restitution of the soul. It's a small theatre, the concrete world of the solitary ward, but she fills it beyond its walls with the imagination. I can't help thinking of Prospero trapped on his island.) And yes, at the end she must return.
Having taught Shakespeare at the high school level for 45 years, this book re-established my appreciation for the bard and what art does. With art, whatever happens disturbs the deeper level of the soul, Psyche, in relation to her world. This book is a testimony to the power of Renaissance art, or art of any kind with the individual. In the sense of the religious, (etymologically a linking back), I promise that any reader will connect at deeper levels within him or herself. Those connections will come at some cost, will be disturbing and will be unforgettable. AC Bradley, a celebrated Shakespeare critic having been raised in a narrow fundamentalism, left his formal religious roots and replaced his spiritual sustenance with Shakespeare. This book finally explained that to me. It's not about the Shakespeare per se, it's about the magic of the art and its charms of a book on the heart.
Every grade 12 student should read this before leaving high school, just for the sake of building a more compassionate society in our young. Entrepreneurial Studies are not going to do it.. How desperately it's needed.
One person found this helpful
 Report
Athinadi
5.0 out of 5 stars ... I found it very informative - moving - and wonderful to see how inspired these tough guys became
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2014
Verified Purchase
As a prison volunteer I found it very informative - moving - and wonderful to see how inspired these tough guys became.
It should be read by all prison educators. Inspiring.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
Keiko
4.0 out of 5 stars loved it
Reviewed in Japan on May 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
It gave a different perspective about reading Shakespeare and made me understand even more why Shakespeare work appeals to so many different and large population even now. Whether criminals or saints, we have same emontional struggles and conflicts universal to all humanbeings. How we end up expressing or not expressing such internal feelings and frustration is largely upto surrowndings and luck. I wished it went down a little deeper anapysis of Shakespear chracters and relationship with prisonors' inner struggles but over all I really enjoyed a book. This is a kind of book you cannot put it down once you start reading it.
Report
Alan Dinson
4.0 out of 5 stars A Real Shakesperience
Reviewed in Canada on November 10, 2022
Verified Purchase
Dr. Laura Bates offers a lifeline to prisoner Larry Newton and everyone who feels imprisoned psychologically or otherwise through the therapy of studying Shakespeare. Larry Newton’s honest, profound, and original interpretations of Shakespeare’s plays warm the reader’s heart. If you love the bard,you will be intrigued by this book. More insights about the plays would keep the reader more engaged. The reality of Larry’s life and his victim’s death make it difficult to separate an appreciation of the book from the horrors of its origins.
Report
Amanda Bass
4.0 out of 5 stars This was a celebration of the timeless power of Shakespeare ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 26, 2018
Verified Purchase
This was a celebration of the timeless power of Shakespeare and the fact that working with people means that there is a two way influence for the benefit of both parties.
Report