Mr. Shakespeare's Greatest Hits

Today is the one year anniversary of this blog.  A far less tired me started it April 18, 2007.  Today's post, therefore, is going to be a selection of the "greatest hits" from the 283 posts made over the past twelve months, based on number of times read (Feedburner keeps track of this for me) or other significance.

The blog has produced several posts that have been read rather widely, including:

• Shakespeare's Marriage Mysteries - about the documentary facts and confusions surrounding Shakespeare's marriage to Anne Hathaway.
• The Cardenio Mystery - obviously, about Theobald's claims to have had 3 copies of the Cardenio manuscript and the related issues.
• The Six Signatures - a gathering of the six authentic signatures of William Shakespeare, with facsimiles.
• Milton on Shakespeare - concerning Milton's Epitaph added to the Second Folio.
• Leonard Digges, the First Bardolator - touching on the commendatory verse of this little known Elizabethan.
• Hamlet Aboard the (Red) Dragon, and its continuation The Dragon Was Read - about the ship of the East India Company upon which the first recorded performance of Hamlet occurred.
• The five part series on the Collier forgeries comprised of The Sad Case of the Collier Forgeries,  A Forger Forges Forth, Collier Continues, Doubts and Loyalties Among Shakespearians, and CSI, The British Museum.
• The Essex Rebellion and the Players - about the abortive Essex uprising of 1601 and the involvement of Shakespeare's company in the same.
•   Lord Hunsdon's Men - about the brief period in 1596-1597 after the death of Henry Carey, Lord Hunsdon and Lord Chamberlain but before the Chamberlaincy was assumed by his son George Carey, during which Lord Cobham was Chamberlain, and Shakespeare's company was known as Lord Hunsdon's Men, memorialized on the quarto title page of Romeo and Juliet.
• The Death of Hamnet Shakespeare - about the sad death of Shakespeare's only son.
• Shakespeare's Funerary Monument - about, obviously, the monument in Holy Trinity Church and the associated burial trappings.
• Shakespeare's Ring - the tale of the ring found at Stratford supposed to belong to William Shakespeare, and the ado about it all.

There are others, but those will do.  My picks for Mr. Shakespeare's greatest hits...at least, over the past year.

Comments

[Terry Gray]

Thanks Ronan, for the kind words and for your perceptive comments throughout the year. Best, --Terry

[Ronan Paterson]

Is it really a year? A very big and heartfelt thank you for the time and the trouble you take over the postings.

Keep up the fantastic work. When I switch my computer on each day I always have a look to see what the current blog is , and a good rummage through the back staircases of Shakespeare's life and work is better than a double shot cappucino to get the motor racing in the mornings.

Here's to another year as good as the last.

[Terry Gray]

Thank you Dominic. It is very kind of you to say so. Best, --Terry

[Dominic Hughes]

Congratulations on a truly excellent job...yours is my favorite website of all. Your dedication and artistry are remarkable, and your efforts are greatly appreciated. Here's wishing you continue for many more years.