Editor Wagner, author and former British and U.S. history educator (Phoenix College and Arizona State U.) brings together excerpts from 51 documents written during the time of playwright William Shakespeare. Learning about the past from primary documents (the writings of the people who lived at the time) is always engaging, and this collection is no exception. It includes letters, literature, speeches and polemics, official reports, and narratives. The content is grouped in general categories, including: society and economy, church and state, literature and history, and Queen Elizabeth I. The author also addresses evaluating and interpreting primary documents and offers instruction on how to read them. A detailed chronology also is included. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)