Biographical Fact and Fiction

Introducing Shakespeare: A Graphic Guide - Nick Groom, Piero 2013

Biographical Fact and Fiction

Shakespeare’s first real biographer was his first proper editor, Nicholas Rowe, who wrote his biography in 1708 and prefaced it to his complete edition of the works in 1709. It became the standard life of Shakespeare for the 18th century. Edmond Malone was later to claim that there were no more than eleven biographical facts in it…

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EIGHT OF WHICH ARE WRONG AND ONE DUBIOUS, LEAVING ONLY SHAKESPEARE’S BAPTISM AND BURIAL. MY ONE-TIME COLLABORATOR GEORGE STEEVENS WAS ALSO DEEPLY SKEPTICAL, AS HE PUT IT …

As all that is known with any degree of certainty concerning Shakespeare is, - that he was born at Stratford upon Avon, - married and had children there, - went to London, where he commenced actor, and wrote poems and plays, - returned to Stratford, made his will, died, and was buried, - I must confess my readiness to combat every unfounded supposition respecting the particular occurrences of his life.