THE BARD OF MERRY ENGLAND

Today is not only St George’s Day but also the anniversary of the birth and death of William Shakespeare in 1564 and 1616 respectively. Now as everyone knows William Shakespeare is England’s most famous playwright, renowned the world over for his masterpieces such as “Macbeth” or “Romeo and Juliet.” English literature’s role model you might say. That said, had he lived today, he might equally have been described as the scourge of politicians; married in a shotgun wedding at the age of 18 before his wife gave birth some 6 months later, he proceeded in due course to move to London leaving his wife at home with a young daughter and a set of twins. In those days Stratford upon Avon was hardly within commuting distance of the capital and although it is reported that he returned there once a year, details are very hazy and there subsists a suspicion that away from home he formed a relationship with another woman. Regardless he remained married to his wife. Who needed divorce in those days when an alternative home in London might as well have been at the other side of the world? Nevertheless Shakespeare delivered an equally cruel wound to his marriage from beyond the grave. When his will was read, it left only his second best bed to his wife!