There are very few recorded facts about Shakespeare. His birth date of April 23rd is just a reasonable supposition. We only know that he was baptised on Wednesday 26th April 1564 but it seems amusing to have him born and dying both on April 23rd (St George’s Day). So this year is the 400th anniversary of his death.

I must tell you a salutary story about the poor state of education in this country.

James Shapiro wrote a book about Shakespeare called 1599.
I was out shopping with my daughter and we popped into Borders Bookshop and I decided to buy this book but could not remember the author or the date.
I went to an assistant who was in front of her computer and I said I want a book on Shakespeare that has been recently published. I cannot remember the author but the title is a date – but I cannot remember the date. Do you think you could find it on your computer.
I will have a look Sir, she said. How do you spell Shakespeare?

No wonder Borders went out of business!