Back to topics
A brief history of tim
This is a short extract from my book which was published just before Xmas and is called A Brief History of Tim. The concept is how the world would look with one letter missing:
www.briefhistoryoftim.com
Read moreRead less
There is a short section in it about Shakespeare which I am sharing here - enjoy!
The world's most prolific playwright was also renowned for his hospitality and given the nickname The Bar of Avon. He was considered so brainy that his plays could only be staged in The Lobe Theatre in London. To this day, his private life is the subject of intense speculation; apparently he wasn't interested in women unless they were bare-headed, although the sole evidence for this theory seems to be his choice of wife, Anne Hat Away.
Some of Shakespeare's Best Loved Plays
All swell that end... Well! - Helen tricks Bertram into making her pregnant. He is somewhat surprised.
Hm. Let? - The tragedy of an insecure tennis umpire.
Mac Bet - One stormy night upon the heath, three witches meet and lay odds on a future King of Scotland passing by in an anorak.
A Midsummer Night's Dram - Two pairs of young lovers take a bottle of whisky into the forest and before long are away with the fairies.
O, hello! -Desdemona wasn't expecting Iago to pop round.
Rome and Juliet - A young Italian girl, tired of her family always arguing with the neighbours, flees to the capital and finds a nice flat with a balcony.
The Winter's Ale - One December night, the King of Sicily sees the statue of his dead wife come to life. He has, however, had several pints.
Famous Shakespearean Quotations
"All the world's a sage"? - Everyone's a smartarse, according to Jacques.
"The lady doth po test too much, methinks" - Gertrude doesn't like anyone
to take too long in the loo.
"Now is the winter of our disco tent!" - Richard III always liked a boogie, even when on the move with the troops. Richard was eventually slain at
Bosworth Field; at one point the battle became so heated, he pleaded: "My kingdom for a hose!"
"Once more unto the beach, dear friends, once more!" - Henry V only went
to France so that he could visit the seaside.
"Paring is such sweet sorrow" - Juliet can hardly bear to watch Romeo clip his toenails.
"Toe, or not toe. That is the question." - Hamlet is tormented with indecision as he wonders whether it's too cold for flip-flops.
Illustration by Tom McLaughlin - www.tommclaughlin.co.uk
