Episode #18: An Introduction to the Life and Work of Dr. John Hall, Shakespeare's Son in Law | An Interview with Sara Read

William Shakespeare's oldest daughter, Susanna, married Dr. John Hall when she was 24 years old. John was a faithful son in law to William Shakespeare, and as a medical doctor in Stratford had a unique look at what it was like to live and work in a small town of the 16th century England. John Hall's surviving case books help Shakespeare historians piece together many realities about Shakespeare's life, not the least of which is some of the medicinal herbs and treatments the bard and his family may have used while living in Stratford. To help us get to know Dr. John Hall, his medical practice, and his relationship to William Shakespeare, Dr. Sara Read is here to explore the life and works of the good doctor from Stratford Upon Avon. Dr. Sara Read is a lecturer in English at Loughborough University and is a specialist in early modern health and medicine. Her first academic monograph along with her history publication from 2015 focused on the reproductive health of women in the 16th century, while most recently she has co-authored a popular book on the history of 16-17th century disease and illness called Maladies and Medicine: Exploring Health and Healing, 1540-1740. Sara and her co author were featured in Shakespeare Magazine's 13th Issue, which came out this year, sharing some of the more bizarre medical practices which were common in Shakespeare's lifetime. Sara joins us today to focus on one of the topics covered in her book: the life and practices of Shakespeare's son in law, Dr. John Hall, and what studying his life can tell us about William Shakespeare.