Book clubs offer a great opportunity for friends and book lovers to gather (whether virtually or in person) to catch up and discuss a good book. There’s only two problems with this activity and they seem to come up at every meeting: what book should the group read next and how do you find enough... Continue Reading →
The origin of the name April for the month we are currently experiencing comes from the Latin Aprills which means “to open.” Considering that it is the month when the trees and flowers begin to open (or at least we can hope for this), it seems an apt name. It is also the month when... Continue Reading →
In honour of Her Majesty's 90th birthday, the Prince of Wales chose a selection from Shakespeare to commemorate the occasion. The passage was taken from Henry VIII and presented this morning on the BBC. The reading from act 5, scene 5 (edited) begins: “Let me speak, sir. For heaven now bids me; and the words... Continue Reading →
Fourteen, a sonneteer thy praises sings; What magic myst’ries in that number lie! Your hen hath fourteen eggs beneath her wings That fourteen chickens to the roost may fly. Fourteen full pounds the jockey’s stone must be; His age fourteen – a horse’s prime is past. Fourteen long hours too oft the Bard must fast;... Continue Reading →
Let me not to the marriage of true minds Admit impediments. Love is not love Which alters when it alteration finds, Or bends with the remover to remove: O, no! It is an ever-fix'd mark, That looks on tempests and is never shaken; It is the star to every wandering bark, Whose worth's unknown, although... Continue Reading →
Beginning in the middle of the 19th century, questions on whether Shakespeare was actually the author of the works thought to be his, began to arise. His lack of a formal education, and humble family background, have contributed to questioning his genius. Since then over 80 possible candidates have been put forward as possible authors... Continue Reading →
Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Thou art more lovely and more temperate: Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May, And summer’s lease hath all too short a date: Sometime too hot the eye of heaven shines, And often is his gold complexion dimm’d; And every fair from fair sometime declines,... Continue Reading →
“Mediocre writers borrow. Great writers steal.“ T.S.Eliot Sometimes,it's not really stealing, its is simply paying homage to great words and great ideas. I was actually surprised by the number of pop songs that have taken inspiration by Shakespeare's words or plays. The variety of artists range from Bob Dylan to Dire Straits, with Canadian contributions... Continue Reading →
What needs my Shakespeare for his honour’d Bones, The labour of an age in pilèd Stones, Or that his hallow’d reliques should be hid Under a stary pointing Pyramid? Dear son of Memory, great heir of Fame, What need’st thou such weak witnes of thy name? Thou in our wonder and astonishment Hast built thy... Continue Reading →
Sonnet 29 When, in disgrace with fortune and men's eyes, I all alone beweep my outcast state, And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries, And look upon myself, and curse my fate, Wishing me like to one more rich in hope, Featur'd like him, like him with friends possess'd, Desiring this man's art and... Continue Reading →
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