We know very little about William Shakespeare (1564-1616), although we know a great deal about the world in which he lived.

We also know that Simon Callow (born in 1949) is one of the most talented (albeit underappreciated) actors who has written several excellent books, including those about Shakespeare, Charles Dickens, and Orson Welles and has created one-man programs — portraying Dickens and Shakespeare — that were immensely successful during international tours.

Here is a link to one of the liveliest interviews on The Charlie Rose Show during which Callow shares a number of enlightening perspectives on William Shakespeare, “the immortal bard.”