William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor born in 1576. He is one of the most famous names in the theatre industry. During his lifetime, William Shakespeare wrote around 37 plays for the theatre and over 150 poems
Even though William Shakespeare is such a renowned personality, there's a lot of mystery surrounding his life and work.
Here are 5 strange facts to get you started.
Shakespeare left a bed to his wife in his will
Even his afterlife is full of mysterious and interesting facts. Shakespeare in his will left a second-best bed in the house to his house. His will reads: ‘“I gyve unto my wife my second best bed with the furniture”. The “furniture” refers to the linen for the bed.
No historical record of his early life
Very little is known about William Shakespeare’s early years between 1585 and 1592. After this period he became s a dramatist and playwright but before this there's no information of what he did. Some say that he was a law clerk, a soldier, a schoolmaster, or an actor.
Stay away from his grave
Shakespeare didn't want anyone to visit his grave so he left strict instructions. He left a poem which says his tombstone contains a curse for anyone who tries to move him.
Shakespeare himself never published his plays
His plays were published by his friends John Heminges and Henry Condell. The world of theater should be thankful to them.
Shakespeare was lucky enough to survive plague
He mentioned in his plays that he lived through outbreaks of deadly Bubonic plague in England. He also lost his loved ones his three sisters and a brother to the plague.
