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William Shakespeare (1564-1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard"). His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language, and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. In more recent times, doubts have been raised about the authorship of the works attributed to him.
William Shakespeare in 1632[]
Balthazar Abrabanel was acquainted with William Shakespeare during Abrabanel's brief time with the Globe Theatre in London. Abrabanel knew that the plays attributed to Shakespeare, including Othello, King Lear, and Hamlet, were in fact written by his patient, Edward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford. The Earl of Oxford did not reveal this for fear that his association with the theater might damage his reputation, and bring debt collectors down upon him.
Shortly after Abrabanel arrived in Grantville, he was surprised to learn that in the centuries to come, Shakespeare came to be recognized as one of the greatest writers of all time. He shared the truth with Morris Roth, Judith Roth, and Melissa Mailey. He was quite delighted that the Earl of Oxford's deception had worked so well that Shakespeare was given the credit for the Earl's work.
In 1634, Shakespeare's grandsons, Richard and Thomas Quiney, joined the Grantville High School drama class.[1]
See Also[]
- William Shakespeare at the Harry Turtledove Wiki
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