The Shakespeare Challenge

Dear All

Today is the anniversary of William Shakespeare’s Birth and Death. Today, I will tell you a few things fascinating facts about the swan of Avon and leave you with a challenge.

1 ) At many times, Shakespeare has been spelt Shakespere and even Shagspeare. Last month, the British retailer Top Shop was roundly mocked for spelling it – Shakespere on a t-shirt. It is funny, but even Shakespeare himself spelt his name various ways!

2 ) Shakespeare was a toy boy, he married his wife Anne when he was 17 and she was 26, she was 3 months pregnant at the time. Saucy Devil!

3 ) Shakespeare’s profession was listed as ‘actor’. A despised profession in Elizabethan England. But playwright was a very low earning job. A member of Elizabeth’s court once spent more money on 1 single party than Shakespeare likely earned from writing his entire life! Shakespeare earned his living as a partner in ownership of theatre companies and theatre buildings. That’s where the real money was, in a box office taking!

Some of my friends and students are taking up the Shakespeare Reading Challenge with me.

By this day next year, we must have read Shakespeare’s complete works. Think of the sense of achievement! I’ve managed The Two Gentlemen of Verona already! Join me and this time next year, let’s see who has completed the challenge with me?!