Happy Birthday, William!

Nobody knows for certain when William Shakespeare was born, but they do know that he was baptised on April 26, and that children in those days were typically baptised within three days--often on the third day--of being born. (In fact, the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer at that time recommended that babies be christened before the Sunday or holy day following their birth). Counting back three days, then, would bring us to April 23, which is also the day on which he died--that we do know. Therefore, April 23 has for hundreds of years been recognized as his official birthday...though there is some evidence that he was, in fact, born on April 22.


Note that April is also National Poetry Month. And in fact, Shakespeare composed
· 154 sonnets
· four longer poems
· 37 plays, all in poetic rhythm

You can access his entire works online at http://shakespeare.mit.edu/. You can also read up on some interesting Shakespeare history at author Anthony Holden's Web site: http://www.englishhistory.info/Shakespeare/

I recommend these films of Shakespeare’s plays:
Romeo and Juliet (1996), starring Claire Danes and Leonardo DiCaprio—contemporary setting.
Romeo and Juliet (1968), directed by Franco Zeffirelli—traditional setting, and a real classic.
Much Ado About Nothing (1993), starring Kenneth Branagh, Kate Beckinsale, and Emma Thompson (Nanny McPhee and Harry Potter's Divination professor, Sybil Trelawney)