SHAKESPEARE, INC.


Known as the Bard of Avon, William Shakespeare was apparently born in 1564, on April 23. I say APPARENTLY because no one really knows. Considering the time period, there's a surprising wealth of information available about the Bard. Most of it probably isn't true.

Nobody can even say that the man we call Shakespeare ever lived at all.

From his early comedies and histories to his tragedies and final romances, Shakespeare's thirty-eight plays reflect a creative genius beyond that of any other single artist -- ever.

Maybe Shakespeare wasn't one person, but a group of people all using the same name. There's no proof of such a thing, but the plays contain such a wide spectrum of information, insight and wisdom about seemingly every sort of human event... it's hard to believe they all come from one man's pen.

It's a deep mystery how Shakespeare seems to have anticipated the socio-political issues of gender and race that now trouble us so, since Shakespeare -- apparently -- died in 1616 on April 23.

Colin Powell

Shakespeare’s CANON refers to all the works believed to have been written by Shakespeare. Scholars disagree about which titles belong in the canon, but it includes Shakespeare’s sonnets and many other poems, as well as the 36 to 38 plays.

Shakespeare's Plays

Timeline: William Shakespeare

»1596 April 26: Entry in the baptismal register of Stratford parish church reads: "Gulielmus filius Johannis Shakspere"

»1582 November 27: Bishop of Worcester's register shows Wm. Shaxpere granted a license to marry Anne Whateley.
28 November: The same register records a marriage bond issued to William Shagspere and Anne Hathwey.

»1583 May 26: Daughter Susanna Shakspere is baptised in Stratford church.

»1585 February 2: Hamnet and Judtih, twins, are baptized in Stratford church.

»1589 William Shakespeare's name appears in a legal document along with his parents against a neighbour over a land dispute.

»1595 March 15: Shakespeare, along with two other actors, receives payment from the Treasurer of the Royal Chamber for "two comedies or interludes" played before the queen several months earlier. He is now presumably in London.

»1596 August 11: Hamnet Shakspere dies at age 11.
29 November: A Mr. William Wayte, files a legal document against Shakspere and three others for "fear of death."

»1597 May 4: Shakspere buys a mansion with gardens in Stratford for 60 pounds. It is the second largest house in Stratford.

»1598 Shakespeare's name heads the list of principal actors in a production of Ben Jonson's "Every Man in his Humour." In this year, Shakespeare's name begins appearing on the title pages of many plays.

»1599 The newly built Globe Theater is recorded as having as tenants "Richard Burbage and William Shackespeare, Gent." Shakspere holds interest in the Theater to at least 1611.

»1601 May 1: Shakspere pays 320 pounds for 107 acres of arable land on the common pasture near Stratford. He also buys a cottage across from his house.

»1603 May 19: A Royal Patent is given to nine actors and their associates, among them William Shakespeare, which authorizes them to perform plays at the Globe Theatre. Shakespeare's name appears on the list of principal comedians in another of Jonson's plays.

»1604 March 15: Nine players, including Shakespeare, are given red cloth by the Great Wardrobe, to make liveries for participating in the coronation procession of King James.

»1604 The production of Shakespeare's plays are at their height, however, Shakspeare appears to be chiefly in Stratford from this date on.

»1608 Shakespeare sues for a debt of six pounds against a John Addenbroke.
19 October: Shakespeare takes a one-seventh share of Blackfriars Theater.

»1610 Shakespeare buys 20 acres of land near Stratford.

»1616 25 January: After revisions, Shakespeare's will is signed by him in three places. It leaves most of his estate to his elder daughter, Susanna. The will gives his "second-best" bed to his wife.


23 April: Shakespeare dies, and is buried two days later in Stratford. His name does not appear on the stone over his grave. His supposed tombstone, preserved to this day reads:

Good friend for Jesus Sake forbeare
To digg the dust encloased heare:
Blest be ye man yet spares these stones
And curst be he yet moves my bones.