Category Archives: Shakespeare’s World

Shakespeare’s First Folio: “read him, … and again and again”

Shakespeare’s First Folio has been in the news again recently due to two new exhibitions featuring this most famous of books.  The Folger Shakespeare Library’s summer exhibition in Washington, DC, will be Fame, Fortune and Theft, looking at the book’s … Continue reading

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Posted in Legacy, Plays and Poems, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A rose by any other word

The scent of roses is in the air already this year. With whole gardens devoted to its many varieties, no flower has a closer association with summertime in England. As national flower, it also has a special link with the … Continue reading

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Posted in Plays and Poems, Shakespeare's World, Stratford-upon-Avon | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Shakespeare’s many lives

It’s said we know next to nothing about Shakespeare’s life, yet new biographies are published every year. Is this because new facts are always being discovered? Sadly not, although every now and then an extra piece is added to the … Continue reading

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The ups and downs of power

No matter what your political affiliation, you have to feel a bit sorry for Nick Clegg. Only a year ago he was the darling of the electorate.  In the televised debates between the leaders of the three main parties before … Continue reading

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The first draft of history?

Over the past week the news has been dominated by the killing of Osama Bin Laden. President Obama must have felt some satisfaction that he’d got an authoritative statement out before it was widely reported on Twitter and Facebook, though … Continue reading

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Posted in Legacy, Shakespeare's World, Sources | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Cuckoos, cuckolds, and the coming of spring

According to one website, Shakespeare “writes more about birds than any other poet”, with 606 mentions of 64 different species. He certainly names many species, and associates them with feelings, people or events.  The day before yesterday I heard my … Continue reading

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Viva Espana

For most of us today, Spain means sun, sea and sangria, but for Shakespeare and his contemporaries Spain had less positive associations. The most powerful state in Europe, already feared and suspected, launched the Spanish Armada with the intention of … Continue reading

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Kiss me, Kate

Today’s Royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William has been the happiest of occasions. In both real life and fiction weddings symbolise harmony, and the marriage of the main characters, usually following a troubled courtship, is a satisfying end to any play or … Continue reading

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Posted in Shakespeare on Stage, Shakespeare's World | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments