A Piece of Work by Simon Russell Beale - ISBN: 9780751534610
Paperback
Actor explores Shakespeare: life, characters, and surprising inspirations abound.

A Piece of Work

Playing Shakespeare and Other Stories

$40.40

  • Paperback

    352 pages

  • Release Date

    9 December 2025

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Summary

‘Extraordinary. A fabulous read’ SIMON SCHAMA

‘Wonderful. He writes with eloquence and wit’ NICHOLAS HYTNER

‘Fascinating’ EIMEAR McBRIDE

Simon Russell Beale is one of Britain’s most recognisable and well-loved actors. He has played many roles on stage, film, television and radio - ranging from Winston Churchill to Stalin, George Smiley to King Arthur. But ever since his appearance at school as a glamorous Desdemona, co…

Book Details

ISBN-13:9780751534610
ISBN-10:0751534617
Author:Simon Russell Beale
Publisher:Little, Brown Book Group
Imprint:Abacus
Format:Paperback
Number of Pages:352
Release Date:9 December 2025
Weight:300g
Dimensions:204mm x 136mm x 44mm
What They're Saying

Critics Review

A glorious feast of insight, memory, gossip and revelation. Like a long outdoor lunch on a sunny autumn day, listening to the sharpest and kindest of companions, talking about Shakespeare and life and the whole shebang * Dominic Dromgoole *
Simon Russell Beale’s insights into Shakespeare have never been confined to his performances. In rehearsal, he will dazzle you with the penetrating originality of a line reading and follow it with a profound analysis of what he thinks the playwright might have been up to. In this wonderful book, he shares what it’s like to live the lives that Shakespeare trusts to his actors; and he writes with the same eloquence and wit he brings to his acting. And with tenderness and wry humour he lets us know how he became the most admired and loved of present day Shakespeareans. I can’t think of a more stimulating or enjoyable way to discover Shakespeare * Nicholas Hytner *
Extraordinary. A fabulous read * Simon Schama *
Part memoir, part incisive study of the challenging roles that he has performed… as intelligent and thoughtful as his acclaimed stage work… this refreshingly modest account offers fascinating pen-portraits of greats Beale has worked with and known and vividly conveys the excitement of live theatre – Alexander Larman * Guardian *
Fascinating * Eimear McBride *

About The Author

Simon Russell Beale

Simon Russell Beale studied at Cambridge before joining the RSC. Described by the Daily Telegraph as ‘the finest actor of his generation’, he has been lauded for both his stage and TV work, winning many awards including the Olivier Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Evening Standard Best Actor Award and the BAFTA Best Actor Award.

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