Is this a portrait of William Shakespeare? That's what a botanist and historian thinks. The fact that the possibility has ignited such chatter is testament to the power and influence the greatest of English dramatists has had upon literature.
Is this a portrait of William Shakespeare? That's what a botanist and historian thinks. The fact that the possibility has ignited such chatter is testament to the power and influence the greatest of English dramatists has had upon literature.
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The best-known picture of Shakespeare is this one, from the First Folio, published in 1623. Shakespeare died in 1616; it will be 400 years since his death next year.
The best-known picture of Shakespeare is this one, from the First Folio, published in 1623. Shakespeare died in 1616; it will be 400 years since his death next year.
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This statue of Shakespeare sits in front of the remains of St. Mary Aldermanbury parish in the City of London. The Bard, considered by many the greatest writer in the English language, wrote 38 plays and more than 100 sonnets.
This statue of Shakespeare sits in front of the remains of St. Mary Aldermanbury parish in the City of London. The Bard, considered by many the greatest writer in the English language, wrote 38 plays and more than 100 sonnets.
Tracy You/CNN
London's Globe Theatre, built in 1997, is a faithful recreation of an Elizabethan stage and sits several hundred yards from the site of the original Globe from Shakespeare's day. It stages a handful of Shakespeare plays each year.
London's Globe Theatre, built in 1997, is a faithful recreation of an Elizabethan stage and sits several hundred yards from the site of the original Globe from Shakespeare's day. It stages a handful of Shakespeare plays each year.
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Shakespeare-related artifacts are tremendously rare and valuable. Here, Remy Cordonnier, librarian in the French town of Saint-Omer, displays a valuable Shakespeare First Folio, a collection of some of his plays dating from 1623. About 230 copies of the First Folio are known to exist in collections or in private hands around the world.
Shakespeare-related artifacts are tremendously rare and valuable. Here, Remy Cordonnier, librarian in the French town of Saint-Omer, displays a valuable Shakespeare First Folio, a collection of some of his plays dating from 1623. About 230 copies of the First Folio are known to exist in collections or in private hands around the world.
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Shakespeare's plays live on in hundreds of live productions staged each year around the world. Here, Paul Daneman and Eileen Atkins appear in "Richard III" at London's Old Vic Theatre in 1962.
Shakespeare's plays live on in hundreds of live productions staged each year around the world. Here, Paul Daneman and Eileen Atkins appear in "Richard III" at London's Old Vic Theatre in 1962.
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From Laurence Olivier's "Henry V" to Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," Hollywood has a long history of producing movie adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. "Shakespeare in Love," a fictionalized look at the Bard's creative muse, won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1998.
From Laurence Olivier's "Henry V" to Baz Luhrmann's "Romeo + Juliet," Hollywood has a long history of producing movie adaptations of Shakespeare's plays. "Shakespeare in Love," a fictionalized look at the Bard's creative muse, won the Oscar for Best Picture of 1998.
Miramax
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, in central England. Tourism related to the playwright is a huge draw for the town, which celebrates Shakespeare's birth each April with parades and other events.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, in central England. Tourism related to the playwright is a huge draw for the town, which celebrates Shakespeare's birth each April with parades and other events.
courtesy John James Photography
A bust of Shakespeare sits in the Garrick Inn, which dates from the 1400s and is reputed to be the oldest pub in Stratford-upon-Avon.
A bust of Shakespeare sits in the Garrick Inn, which dates from the 1400s and is reputed to be the oldest pub in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Tracy You/CNN