We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. He was the greatest Western playwright of all time. His plays are still burned in our cultural memory and performed the world over. But William Shakespeare (1564-1616), the man, has remained an elusive figure. He left behind little documentation — no letters, no handwritten manuscripts, few contemporary accounts, and only six signatures, all spelled differently. In the words of Charles Dickens: “The life of Shakespeare is a fine mystery, and I tremble every day lest something should turn up.”

Why Is William Shakespeare’s Life Considered a Mystery?

William Shakespeare was no stranger to the task of plying his trade amid difficult conditions. He was working in London when the bubonic plague surfaced in 1592 and again in 1603, the latter a particularly lethal outbreak that left more than 30,000 city dwellers dead. In 1606, as England was roiling from a near-assassination attempt on King James, the plague returned to wreak havoc on Londoners once again.

Shakespeare Wrote Three of His Famous Tragedies During Turbulent Times

Ever wondered why the Hail Mary is so significant in Catholic tradition? This prayer, cherished by millions, holds a special place in the hearts of believers. Originating from the words of the Archangel Gabriel and Elizabeth in the Bible, it has evolved into a powerful invocation. The Hail Mary is more than just a prayer; it's a connection to the divine, a source of comfort, and a symbol of faith. Whether whispered in moments of need or recited in daily devotion, its impact is profound. Let's uncover 40 intriguing facts about this timeless prayer that continues to inspire and uplift.

40 Facts About Hail Mary

The Grade II listed property in East Horsley is being sold as it is "too costly" to modernise.

‘Inhabitable’ historic manor house for sale at £1.5m

Los Angeles County, CA

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Herbie J Pilato

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the commentary and quotes in this article are from the author's interview with those mentioned.]. Elizabeth Montgomery was one of the most popular actors from the 1950s to her unfortunate passing from cancer in 1995. Before, during, and after her benchmark Emmy-nominated role as twitch-witch Samantha Stephens on TV's Bewitched (ABC, 1964-1972), Montgomery made over 200 additional appearances in other weekly shows, TV-movies, and feature films.

'Bewitched' Star Elizabeth Montgomery Received Death Threats for Protesting the Vietnam War

The Independent

 A famous portrait of King Henry VIII, long considered lost, has been found after an art historian spotted it in the background of a photo shared on social media.The painting in question was once part of a famous set of 22 portraits commissioned in the 1590s by tapestry maker Ralph Sheldon. The portrait hung originally in Weston House, Sheldon’s Warwickshire home, but barely a handful of paintings from the collection survive today.Art historian Adam Busiakiewicz, who works as a consultant for famous auction house Sotheby’s, spotted the painting in the background of a picture posted by the Warwickshire Lieutenancy...

Missing portrait of Henry VIII discovered after historian spots it in background of post on X

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	A cottage where artist and poet William Blake once lived is one step closer to being preserved as a museum. At risk of collapse, funding will be used to fix the thatched roof, the Art Newspaper reported.Chris Pratt and Katherine Schwarzenegger Just Tore Down This Stunning Midcentury Modern Home




	Blake was an English poet, painter, and printmaker during the Romantic era. Though he was mostly unrecognized during his lifetime, Blake was associated with some of the leading radical thinkers of his time, among them Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft.




	Blake lived in the cottage in Felpham village in Sussex, UK, with his...

Saved from Collapse, William Blake’s Former Cottage to be Restored with Plans for a Museum

Mens Journal

Archaeologists have a theory about their last minutes of life.

Unearthed Pompeii Skeletons Shed Light on Victims' Final Moments

Plymouth, MA

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Dianna Carney

The Plymouth Public Library Foundation has announced the return of its Annual Arts and Crafts Festival, a two-day celebration that promises to be a highlight of the summer season. Set to take place on the scenic Plymouth Public Library Lawn, the festival will run from 10 AM to 4 PM on both Saturday, August 10th, and Sunday, August 11th. This family-friendly event is designed to offer something for everyone, making it a perfect outing for people of all ages.

50+ Artisans, Food Trucks & More: Get Ready For The 5th Annual Arts and Crafts Festival

Two drug dealers have been jailed after cannabis plants worth more than £300,000 were discovered. Marjus Gashi, 34, and Albjon Kucuku, 31, were arrested on 2 May at the former’s home in Shelton Road, Stanground, Peterborough, after Cambridgeshire Police executed a warrant and found 285 plants worth up to about £240,000.

Pair jailed after police uncover cannabis factory

Olympic 800m champion Keely Hodgkinson will miss the rest of the 2024 athletics season because of injury.

Hodgkinson to miss rest of 2024 season with injury

The ironstone is thought to have come from the building where Henry II put the archbishop on trial.

Thomas Becket trial castle stone found in car park

Venturing back in time, a team of dedicated scientists have undertaken the formidable challenge of meticulously recreating the obscure scent worn by none other than the infamous Roman dictator, Julius Caesar. Known as ‘Telinum’, this distinctive scent was a highly coveted blend of nature’s bounty, meticulously crafted from an array...

Scientists have recreated Julius Caesar’s signature scent

A play about a 19th Century poet is to be revived to help fund the cataloguing of his archive. Dorset dialect poet William Barnes bequeathed his writings, woodcuts and engravings to the county museum that he co-founded in 1846. The William Barnes Society hopes to raise £35,000 to catalogue the...

Play about poet's life revived to help fund archive

The woman, named locally as Alberta Obinim, died at the scene in Gorton while two others are in hospital.

Woman killed and two hurt in stabbing

A man who was given a new type of weight loss pill by the NHS has now had gastric bypass surgery after losing three and a half stone (22.2kg). Dave Pulford from Yeovil was given a capsule that contained a gastric balloon at Musgrove Park Hospital, the first hospital to offer the treatment, in February.

Surgery for man after weight loss balloon pill success

Actor Buddy Ebsen, who died at age 95 in 2003, found fame by starring in two of the most popular classic television shows in history: The Beverly Hillbillies (CBS, 1962 to 1971) and Barnaby Jones (CBS, 1973 to 1980). On the Hillbillies, he played former Tennessee country mountain-folk-turned-wealthy Beverly Hills resident Jed Clampett. On Barnaby Jones, he was one of TV's most senior, slyest, health-conscious detectives. Ebsen, however, almost became even more famous for a certain big-screen classic film in which he ultimately did not appear.

'Beverly Hillbillies" Actor Buddy Ebsen Was "Bitter" about not playing the Tin Man in 'Wizard of Oz'

IFLScience

Apollo named 12 objects in 3 minutes to claim the record.

Extraordinary Talking African Grey Parrot Apollo Breaks Guinness World Record

[Note: Unless otherwise indicated, the commentary and quotes in this article are from interviews the author conducted with those individuals mentioned.]. This year marks the 60th Anniversary of the classic TV show Bewitched, which originally aired on ABC from 1964 to 1972. The show remains popular in reruns, and will soon be released in a special Blu-ray edition to mark the anniversary.

Dick York ("Darrin #1") Would Have Stayed on 'Bewitched' Had He'd Been Given More Time To "Rest up"

The Caribbean’s most legendary paranormal villain, “The White Witch of Rose Hall,” has become an unlikely hero for the tourism industry in Jamaica.

A murderous ghost haunted an exclusive Jamaican resort for centuries. But could she survive a paranormal investigation?

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Theatre makes 'mind boggling' Shakespeare discovery

A 600-year-old doorway that may have once led to William Shakespeare’s dressing room has been revealed in the UK’s oldest working theatre. The archway was found...

Theatre makes 'mind boggling' Shakespeare discovery

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