William Shakespeare 400

Today, April 23, is the 400^th anniversary of William Shakespeare’s death.  It is also the 452nd  anniversary of his birth.

The Shakespeare Blog recently quoted a 200-year-old stanza, apparently part of an impromptu rhyme written and recited by Mr James Bisset at the celebration of Shakespeare’s birthday two hundred years ago, in Stratford’s Town Hall:

 “Revered be the season a Shakespeare appear’d,

Revered be the date of his birth.

Ever sacred the day, which two centuries since,

Snatch’d “the pride of all nature” from earth.”

(http://theshakespeareblog.com/2016/04/stratford-upon-avon-springing-into-action-for-the-big-day/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheShakespeareBlog+%28The+Shakespeare+blog%29)

Over the nine months since I began this blog, I’ve had a number of entries about The Bard.  On this auspicious anniversary, I thought I’d repost some of these.

On September 1, 2015, I made a list of Shakespeare-inspired novels:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2015/09/shakespeare-inspired-novels.html,

In the same vein, on October 10, 2015, I wrote about the Hogarth Shakespeare novels being released in 2015 and 2016:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2015/10/new-shakespeare-novels-to-be-released.html.

On January 3, 2016, I challenged readers to read a Shakespeare play in this anniversary year:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/01/readers-resolution-for-2016-read.html.

On February 7, 2016, I recommended a single-volume Shakespeare:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/02/a-heavy-read-single-volume-shakespeare_7.html.

On February 26, 2016, I suggested two useful books by Shakespeare scholars:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/02/some-analysis-of-shakespeares-plays.html.

On the Ides of March, I listed some favourite quotations from Julius Caesar:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/03/some-memorable-quotations-for-ides-of.html.

On March 26, 2016, I wrote about Shakespeare’s skull being missing from his grave:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/03/shakespeare-curse-ignoreed.html.

On April 7, 2016, I discussed the First Folio recently authenticated on the Isle of Bute in Scotland:  http://schatjesshelves.blogspot.ca/2016/04/the-mount-stuart-house-copy-of.html.

As the year continues, I will certainly be posting more about this greatest of English writers.