The History of Literature 795 Will Tosh and Queer Shakespeare (Revisited)
Apr 23, 2026
Will Tosh, Director of Research at Shakespeare's Globe and author of Straight Acting, explores Shakespeare as a queer artist. He discusses queer readings of the sonnets, how all-male companies shaped onstage dynamics, the risks of publishing queer work in the early modern period, and why modern productions should embrace these queer currents.
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Bradbury's Mr. Electrico Origin Story
- Ray Bradbury credited a carnival performer Mr. Electrico for igniting his lifelong career in writing.
- At age 12 Bradbury ran from a funeral to the carnival, learned a magic trick from Mr. Electrico, and left feeling told to 'live forever,' which prompted him to start writing.
Scarce Biography But Rich Literary Evidence
- Shakespeare's biography is sparse but his works offer deep psychological and linguistic insight into human experience.
- Jacke emphasizes that despite limited documentary evidence, Shakespeare's plays and sonnets provide enduring access to his mind and cultural impact.
Shakespeare As A Queer Artist
- Will Tosh argues Shakespeare is a queer artist because his work is consistently inspired by queer desire in multiple modes.
- Tosh distinguishes erotic, romantic same-sex friendship and other queer-inflected unions that don't map neatly onto modern labels.
