work, Brandes sets the scene by contrasting Shakespeare’s significance with that of his contemporaries, such as Michael Angelo and Cervantes, emphasizing the lasting impact of Shakespeare’s body of work even centuries after its creation. He outlines the challenges in reconstructing Shakespeare's biography, citing a lack of contemporary documentation and personal letters. The opening also introduces key aspects of Shakespeare's origins, including his upbringing in Stratford-on-Avon and the cultural influences that likely shaped his literary output. Brandes’ examination promises a detailed exploration of Shakespeare's evolution as an artist and the political and social currents of England during his time. (This is an automatically generated summary.)