Stalking Shakespeare: A Memoir of Madness, Murder, and My Search for the Poet Beneath the Paint

*Winner of the 2024 Mississippi Institute of Arts & Letters Award for Life Writing* In Stalking Shakespeare, listeners follow the down-and-out writer's obsession with Shakespearian portraiture after his divorce. Seeking the authentic likeness of William Shakespeare, Durkee embarks on a captivating journey that spans from Vermont to Tokyo, Washington, D.C., Mississippi, and ultimately London, where he encounters curators who guard the Bard’s image. With moments of humor and intrigue, Durkee reveals how he charms these experts into letting him test their portraits with advanced technologies, all while exploring the 400-year-old mystery surrounding Shakespeare's true appearance. As he weaves together biography, art history, and personal anecdotes, Durkee presents a moving narrative that offers a fresh perspective on one of history’s most revered literary figures. This audiobook is both gripping and thought-provoking, promising to change the way listeners perceive Shakespeare forever.