'Churchill's Shakespeare'

Winston Churchill was a towering leader during World War II, who gave hope to wartime Britain in its most difficult years. His event-filled life stretched from the mid-Victorian era to the 1960s. Many of his speeches are still quoted today. And, as Churchill's Shakespeare reveals, he was a lifelong admirer of Shakespeare, whose works shaped his writing and ideas.

For the first time, this exhibition brings together photographs, posters, theater programs, personal letters, manuscripts, rare books, and more from the Churchill Archives Centre at Cambridge, the Folger Shakespeare Library, Churchill’s home Chartwell, and other collections. Among other items, Churchill's Shakespeare includes his familiar hat, bow tie, and walking stick—and some of his own copies of Shakespeare's plays. Visitors can also hear Churchill's speeches, listen to Shakespearean actors, and watch key video clips.