In a nutshell, I found conspiracy and greed.
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language'
born: 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
Occupation: Playwright
wrote from 1590 to 1613
wrote 37 plays, 160 poems and Sonnets
Conspiracy: but did he write them all by himself? Or did Marlow help him?
died: 1616 in Stratford-upon-Avon, United Kingdom
how: it's a mystery, but there is some speculation that he drank himself to death
Century upon century later, his work still charms us...
Bard on the Beach Shakespeare Festival (BC)
Shakespeare in the Ruins (Manitoba)
Shakespeare on the Saskatchewan (Saskatchewan)
Stratford Festival (Ontario)
(Illustration of Thor and his eight legged horse--a story by Snorri Sturluson)
Snorri Sturluson
His genius lay in his power to present all that he perceived critically as a historian with the immediacy of drama
born: 1179 in Dalasysla, Iceland
Occupation: Historian, Poet, Politician (Chieftan)
wrote from 1223 to 1235
wrote the Prose Edda and Heimskringla
Using his considerable literary talent, Snorri gained favour with the Norwegian king. The Prose Edda repopularized figures from Norse mythology -- Thor (the god of war), Odin (all father) and Loki (the trickster).
Through the Prose Edda, I hear Snorri say to the Norwegian king, "Remember this, your people and my people we're the same."
The Heimskringla is a history of the Norwegian kings from Odin to Magnus Erlongsson (1184).
Here, I hear Snorri say, "I know how powerful you are. Iceland knows how powerful you are. We don't want our independence. Why would we? It's just talk."
And thus Snorri feathered his own nest while selling out his country.
Did it work? Well...
died: 1241
how: King Haakon ordered Snorri's assassination
Next post: Book review: Short by Holly Goldberg Sloan and Room by Emma Donoghue -- Target reader
Published: Sunday, July 23 at approximately 5 PM PT
Read on to discover the dog part to this story...
