SHAKESPEARE

Every birthday counts when you just have one life.

Why Do We Say Cats Have Nine Lives?

Though cats only live once, the idea that the animals have nine lives has been around for a long time.

The Long, Strange History of the Word ‘Weird’

Where did this bizarre word come from, and how has it changed over the centuries?

What Exactly Is a ‘Wild Goose Chase’?

No wild geese were harmed in the making of this idiom.

10 Interpretations of Shakespeare’s Works

These theories about The Bard’s works range from the almost believable to the the utterly outlandish.

We can thank Shakespeare for popularizing it, sort of.

Why Do We Say ‘In a Pickle’?

Contrary to popular belief, Shakespeare wasn’t the one who invented this common idiom. But trying to unravel its origins will land you in a bit of a tricky situation.

We have Shakespeare to thank for a whole bunch of words.

Quiz: Can You Guess the Word Coined by Shakespeare?

Shakespeare is often given credit with coining more than a thousand words. How many of them do you know?

Macbeth and the three witches in Shakespeare's possibly cursed play.

The Scottish Play: Why Actors Won’t Call ‘Macbeth’ by Its Title

The superstition that saying “Macbeth” will bring bad luck has been around since Shakespeare’s play debuted.

Shakespeare is the source of a lot of words.

21 Words Created by Shakespeare (And 4 That Weren’t)

Shakespeare is the first known citation for over a thousand words and even more meanings—but new research occasionally shows that Shakespeare actually didn't originate some phrases, a trend that will likely continue over time.

Illustration of William Shakespeare Reciting Hamlet to His Family

William Shakespeare’s Sister, Joan, Emerges in Long-Lost Writings

A fascinating new discovery has emerged about a pamphlet found in the rafters of William Shakespeare’s childhood home.

There are a lot of people who don’t think Shakespeare was actually Shakespeare.

8 Shakespeare Conspiracy Theories

Discover the controversial conspiracy theories that challenge Shakespeare’s authorship, from the Baconian Theory to the Alien Theory and beyond.

12 Historical Conspiracy Theories

From doubt over Shakespeare’s existence to Lincoln’s assassination, conspiracy theories have been around for centuries.

You Bull’s Pizzle! Breaking Down 10 Iconic Shakespeare Insults

Here’s how to pepper your next argument with Shakespearean insults.

100 Facts That Will Make You Go “WTF”

Weird but fascinating facts about everything from the guy who dragged cars with his nipples to frogs shedding (and eating!) their own skin.

This Word Search Features 12 Terms Coined by Authors—How Fast Can You Spot Them?

Do you know which author invented ‘factoid’—or what it really means? But more importantly, can you find it in this word search?

11 Facts About Shakespeare’s First Folio

Officially titled 'Mr. William Shakespeare’s Comedies, Histories, and Tragedies,' the more than 900-page tome collected together 36 of the Renaissance writer’s plays for the first time.

Add "like an boar in a frank" to the list of Shakespearisms you should be using more.

10 Little-Used Shakespearisms

Not all of Shakespeare’s snappiest phrases and expressions caught on.

One of Shakespeare's First Folios (not this one) was stolen from a cathedral in England in 1998.

7 Times Literary Works Were Stolen

A number of valuable, important, or rare manuscripts have been swiped from authors or the individuals or institutions tasked with taking care of them. Here’s a sampling of them.

How do I tell if thee is a sonnet? Let me count the lines.

Poem vs. Sonnet: What’s the Difference?

Plenty of poems are love poems. Why aren’t all of them considered sonnets? In short, rhyme scheme, length, and structure.

No, William Shakespeare probably wasn't secretly the Earl of Oxford.

6 Misconceptions About Famous Books and Authors

Even devout bibliophiles might believe some of these misconceptions about Jane Austen, Ernest Hemingway, and William Shakespeare.

11 Fun Face Masks That Show Off Your Love of Books

We have compiled 11 book-themed face masks showing off banned books, library cards, and famous characters like Mr. Darcy.

Miranda is an important character in Shakespeare's The Tempest, but she's not the titular role.

Titular vs. Eponymous: What’s the Difference?

The definition of ‘eponymous’ has changed over time, and ‘titular’ has more than one. Here’s how to use each word correctly.

Patrick Stewart Is Reading a Different Shakespeare Sonnet Live Every Day

If you're looking for something to do at home, tune into Patrick Stewart's Instagram every day to hear him read a different sonnet by Shakespeare.

5 People Who Were Amazingly Productive In Quarantine

It's not a myth: William Shakespeare really did write 'King Lear' during the plague. From Edvard Munch to Isaac Newton, here are a few more people who made the most of being isolated.

Write a Letter to Shakespeare’s Juliet for a Chance to Spend Valentine’s Day in Her Romantic Verona Home

If you win, you’ll get a Michelin-star meal, a personal butler, and the chance to reenact the famous 'Romeo and Juliet' scene from Juliet’s balcony.