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Monday, January 07, 2008

You're bard

I am reading a book on Shakespeare at the moment. It is by Bill Bryson, who writes very very funny books usually about travel. I would like to be Bill Bryson, but at the moment I am Laura Nunn, so you will have to put up with that for now. As and when (or if) I become Bill Bryson, I will let you know. I am still trying to grow the beard.

Anyway, I digress. I am reading a book about Shakespeare. I did English at uni, so I know a little bit already about the Brummy Bard, but most of the stuff I read was criticism of his works, or else his works themselves, whereas the Bryson book is a biography.

Jesus, we don't know anything at all about Shakespeare! Only six signatures of his exist, and they reckon that at least three of them were probably faked. No-one knows where he was or for how long, whether he was gay or not, and we also (carelessly) appear to have lost a fair number of his plays.

Well, in your face, Shakespeare. I am very careful to keep an accurate diary, and I predict now that this Plog will outlast any of your rubbish sonnets. If this be false and it upon me proved...

Oh, never mind.

3 comments:

Stonebase said...

Did you hear the one about the dyslexic artist who grew a beard thinking it was the way to becoming a great poet?

Anonymous said...

I've read that book.

I did think Bill Bryson made a good job of stretching out the 2 and a half things we know about Shakespeare (if that even is his name!) into a whole book.

Bill Bryson is the only author that makes me laugh out loud. In public sometimes.

Laura said...

Oh dear, that's a terrible joke. You're Bard.

Couldn't resist. Sorry.

Bill Bryson makes me laugh out loud too. It's embarrassing. Tip: don't take it with you as light reading to a funeral.