francene--blog. Year 2013
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May 25th

5/25/2013

 
Picturewww.guardian.co.uk
Shakespeare's property deed signature will go on display on 28th May at the London Metropolitan Archives. It is one of only six known signatures by the famed writer to have lasted for over the 400 years since his death.

In 2004, the BBC announced: Rare examples of William Shakespeare's signature in a will are among important historical papers now available online. The document, which is joined by one million others, has been put on the web by the National Archives.

I looked up some facts about one of the greatest writers of all time.

2012: All's Well That Ends Well has another author along with William Shakespeare, according to research from Oxford University academics. Thomas Middleton has been revealed as the most likely co-author, according to in-depth analysis of the play's vocabulary, rhyming, style and grammar. The latest literary research shows groups of writers working together on plays.

Thomas Middleton, who lived between 1580 and 1627, was a Londoner, younger than Shakespeare, and one professor says his more modern grammar can be detected in the text. But another researcher says that his collaboration with Shakespeare in about 1607 could be likened to an established musician working with a rising star.

Alls Well that Ends Well recognizes the mixing and matching of life. "The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together." And later: "It is like a barber's chair that fits all buttocks."

Last month on the 23rd April, we celebrated the approximate 449th birthday of William Shakespeare. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564.
He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 and they had three children.
He published poetry before his plays, starting in 1593.
Records of his plays begin to appear in 1594.
Most of his most popular plays were written after Elizabeth’s death he was actually more of a Jacobean writer.


PictureThe Globe theatre. openbuildings.com
During his life, Shakespeare wrote 37 plays and 154 sonnets! This means an average 1.5 plays a year since he first started writing in 1589. His last play The Two Noble Kinsmen is reckoned to have been written in 1613 when he was 49 years old.

William Shakespeare may have spent some of his lost early years working as a schoolmaster in a Hampshire village. Local historians in Titchfield near Southampton believe the Bard worked as a schoolmaster at a school there for three years between 1589 and 1592.

So, a man with limited schooling and who spelled poorly is thought to have taught others. I guess there were no National Standards to maintain back then. Shakespeare sounds like a real entrepreneur, wheeling and dealing in property as well as writing, acting and teaching. A man who would do well in any era that allows freedom of the individual.

New research about William Shakespeare's lesser known role as an illegal food hoarder 400 years ago helps us understand him as a more complex figure. As well as hoarding during food shortages, the Aberystwyth University study said the bard was also threatened with jail for tax evasion. Shakespeare's writing reflects food and hunger at the height of the 1607 food riots. His play Coriolanus shows a famine created and exploited by rich merchants and politicians.


Picturewww.shakespeare.org.uk
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway when he was 18. She was 26 and she was pregnant when they married. The Hathaway cottage came from her family estate.

Shakespeare died a rich man. He made several gifts to various people but left his property to his daughter, Susanna. The only mention of his wife in Shakespeare’s own will is: "I gyve unto my wief my second best bed with the furniture". The furniture was the bedclothes for the bed.


Seeing as the cottage belonged to her, this points up the property laws of the time.  His epitaph was:

Good friend for Jesus’ sake forbear,

To dig the dust enclosed here:

Blest be the man that spares these stones,

And curst be he that moves my bones.

Though it was customary to dig up the bones from previous graves to make room for others, Shakespeare’s remains are still undisturbed.

Despite his entrepreneur status, he has achieved world renown as a great writer. I would love to be half as good. Please note my book Still Rock Water on the right of the page amongst many others, also written with a co-author.

Amy link
5/24/2013 09:51:29 pm

Francene,
The Bard was a food-hoarder and a tax-evader? Wow, and what a prolific writer he was! I love his works and I need to pull one out and start reading again. It has been awhile since I've treated myself this way. This was fascinating, Francene, thank you!

Francene Stanley link
5/25/2013 03:20:59 am

It's amazing what little tit-bits you can research about any given person or thing. I'd say his ability to evade difficult situations made him a better writer.

Bonnie Gean link
5/25/2013 01:04:26 am

I think a book is only as good as the title. If the title doesn't explain what the book is about, I never give it a second look.

Like articles, a book title has to convey urgency for me to stop and take a look. Don't you agree?

Do you come up with the titles before or after you start writing and why? Inquiring minds want to know. :)


Francene Stanley link
5/25/2013 03:25:00 am

I guess you need to solve the puzzle in the book title. Still Rock Water is about the emotions running deep. I work out the titles as I go along. In my fututistic co-written series, I named the books after iconic songs, twisted to fit in with memories centruies on. Wind Over Troubled Waters is Bridge Over... Knights in Dark Leather is Knights in White Satin ... Golden Submatine is Yellow ... ;-)

Kathy Hadley link
5/25/2013 02:00:31 am

Very interesting! Thanks.

Kathy

Nicola link
5/25/2013 02:10:58 am

Interesting article Francene. It's been a long time since I studied any Shakespeare, although I was lucky enough to see a couple of open-air performances in France whilst on holiday which were very enjoyable and transcended the centuries well! I enjoyed the context you provided for his life!

Francene Stanley link
5/25/2013 03:19:37 am

Wow! You saw a performance in France. That must have leant it great atmosphere.

Lynn Spiro link
5/25/2013 03:21:45 am

Francene,

Such interesting and amazing facts in this article! How amazing is it that Shakespeare's signature has been preserved for over 400 years.

Enjoyed reading your post.

Lynn Spiro

Francene Stanley link
5/25/2013 03:27:04 am

So glad you appreciated my research, Lynn.

AMummysLife link
5/25/2013 11:11:13 am

Do you know, I've never even thought about the history of Shakespeare and where he came from? His works are famous, his person is not so much!

Liz Who Motivates link
5/26/2013 12:21:06 am

Francene...I love your amusing stories filled lots of interesting unknown tidbits...thanks for helping us brush up on our Shakespeare as I say parting is such sweet sorry...she doth protest too much :)


Comments are closed.

    Author

    Francene Stanley, author of many published novels. If you like my writing, why not consider purchasing one of my books? You'll see them on the sidebar below.
    Born in Australia, I moved to Britain half way through my long life.

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