Myth of the Month 10: Who Was Shakespeare? -- pt. 1: The Monument and the Man
Historiansplaining: A historian tells you why everything you know is wrong
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The Great Weapon of Promotion and Pride in the English Language and the English People
Ben jonson was the main manager and investor in the first folio, and he was an veterate promoter and salesman. So we can't just take it face value whether he was entirely sincere in this praise or if it was marketing. He does not include any particular personal details about william shakespeare. Nothing about his appearance, his personality or character, his behavior, his life' story. But there are two small phrases in two passages in the poem that clearly connect this author to the man whose will and testament was written up in 16 six n.
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