Long live The Bard!

He wasn’t, as far as we know, gay, female, Aboriginal, disabled or an oppressed Muslim, but this weekend, which marks the 400th anniversary of his death, it is worth celebrating the enduring gift to the world of a dead white male, William Shakespeare. He might, or might not, have written those plays, but that is almost beside the point. What matters is that they were written.

For an online trove of fascinating documents relating to the Sweet Swan of Avon, follow the link below to the site, Shakespeare Documented.  The one pictured above is his last will and testament. There are hundreds more.

UPDATE: Daniel Hannan on  those who would appropriate the Bard for their own ends. Unlike Shakespeare’s own fools, their efforts display neither a trace of wit nor wisdom, just wind signifying, well, nothing.

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