William Shakespeare: life of the week

Hello and welcome to Life of the Week, where leading historians delve into the lives of some of history's most intriguing and significant figures, from ancient Egyptian pharaohs and medieval warriors to daring 20th century spies. Who was William Shakespeare really? From humble beginnings in Stratford upon Avon, how did he emerge as one of history's greatest writers? I spoke with Dr. Paul Edmondson, head of research for the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, to get better acquainted with the man himself, exploring his education, marriage and family, as well as the remarkable rise in wealth and status that ran in parallel with his career.

Today we are talking all about William Shakespeare. Now, his works and legacy may be well known in modern society, but today we are actually going to be delving into the man himself. So in 60 second brief fashion, what are some highlights that listeners should know about before we truly dive in? What are some of the most

fascinating or surprising facets of his life. Well, we think of him as one of the greatest of all writers, perhaps the greatest writer in English. Let's think about his personal life here in Stratford upon Avon. He bought a large house in 1597, with between twenty and thirty rooms, called New Place, and he was really unusual among his contemporaries to do that, to buy a freehold outside London. Therefore it seems that he commuted

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