Book Review Podcast: Ben Jonson, In and Out of Shakespeare's Shadow January 20, 2012, 4:29 pm In the New York Times Book Review, Charles Isherwood reviews Ian Donaldson's "Ben Jonson: A Life." Jonson, a playwright and "Britain's first literary celebrity," was a contemporary of Shakespeare. In his book, Mr. Donaldson makes the case that Jonson was as central as Shakespeare to the development of the British theater. Though he was posthumously eclipsed by his fellow writer, Jonson was the more noticeable of the two while they lived. Mr. Isherwood writes: On this week's podcast, Mr. Isherwood discusses the life and career of Jonson; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news.