What was Shakespeare Really Like?

How did he think, feel, and work? What were his relationships like? What did he believe about death? What made him laugh?

That is the title and part of the blurb advertising Stanley Wells’ latest book, a compilation of four essays presented online during lockdown to celebrate his 90th birthday—which he takes care to tell me is May 21.

WARNING: X-rated items below.

I bought the book because I was so excited, at last, to learn what the man from Stratford was really like, and f…