Topic: King Lear

Top Picks: 'Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! Live,' a documentary on William Randolph Hearst, and more

The app Dark Sky lets you keep track of your personal weather, HBO examines the relationship between elephants and people, and more top picks.

William Shakespeare: tax dodger, shady businessman?

William Shakespeare avoided paying taxes and hoarded grain during famine, according to researchers. They argue that William Shakespeare the grain hoarder has been has been 'redacted from history so that Shakespeare the creative genius could be born.'

The Bible miniseries: Mark Burnett tackles Bible 'illiteracy'

The Bible miniseries by 'Survivor' producer Mark Burnett started on the History Channel Sunday. The five-part miniseries use modern computer graphics to bring stories from the Bible to life.

Daniel Day-Lewis plays our sixteenth president in 'Lincoln' (+video)

'Lincoln' could be more daring but shines a light on the backroom shenanigans that went into abolishing slavery.

Decoder Wire Presidential debate 101: When did Obama label Libya attack 'terror'?

In a narrow sense, Mitt Romney was wrong when he said at the presidential debate that Obama took weeks to describe the consulate attack in Libya as an act of 'terror.' But in a larger sense, Romney isn’t wrong.

Anonymous: movie review

Was Shakespeare a fraud? That's the premise of 'Anonymous,' which bends history in classic Hollywood fashion.

Toronto International Film Festival: the buzz this year

George Clooney film captures attention, along with a new Neil Young documentary.

If I could have lunch with Rupert Murdoch

The drama of the phone-hacking hearing in Parliament that starred Rupert Murdoch and his son has me wondering what I might say to the elder Murdoch if I had the chance. The main thing: Ethics matters, not just legality.

Thor: movie review

Marvel Comics starts another franchise as the superhero Thor gets tongue-in-cheek treatment.

In Zimbabwe, hope behind the horror

Peter Godwin's book, "The Fear: Robert Mugabe and the Martyrdom of Zimbabwe," is about more than tragedy.

A book that brought God closer

As The King James translation of the Bible marks its 400th anniversary, its deep influence and prominence are slipping.

Holiday gift guide 2010: Television programs

We have more gift ideas for you this holiday season. For the person who enjoys Canadian television comedy, World War II drama, a TV documentary on mankind's narrative myths, and a classic British television detective series, we have a quartet of selections. By the way, if you would like to purchase any of these DVD sets, there are links to do so on each page and you can help the Monitor at the same time.

Top picks: TV series 'Slings and Arrows' on DVD, Charles Schulz's 'The Peanuts Collection,' Rock Band 3, and more

Award-winning Canadian TV series 'Slings and Arrows' on DVD, 'The Peanuts Collection: Treasures from the World's Most Beloved Comic' by Charles Schulz and Nat Gertler, Rock Band 3 with new features, and more recommendations.

Will Contested

Conspiracy theories aside, argues Shakespearean scholar James Shapiro, Shakespeare really did write Shakespeare.

The Surrendered

Chang-Rae Lee toggles between Korea, New York, and Italy in this epic novel of grief and survival.

Bestselling books the week of 3/11/10, according to IndieBound*

What's selling best in independent bookstores across America.

Six Picks: Recommendations from the Monitor staff

'Slings and Arrows' comedy on DVD, charming new children's book from Arnold Lobel, National Geographic's 50 scenic drives, and more.

You'll never read alone

Classic review: The People's Tycoon

Henry Ford was the very image of the America of his day: idealistic and far too self-assured.

Fool

A wickedly funny retelling of King Lear and his court in a make-believe England.

To read or not to read, that is the question.

A New Year's resolution to read a Shakespearean drama each month drew all sorts of reactions from strangers.

Will the press hold Obama to account?

A dog story for the ages

Tantalizing hints of Shakespeare

A historian pieces together bits and scraps in an effort to re-create a chapter in the life of the Bard.

Tantalizing hints of Shakespeare

A historian pieces together bits and scraps in an effort to re-create a chapter in the life of the Bard of Avon.