William Shakespeare’s grave is in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
I can’t say much about arguably the most famous writer who ever lived that hasn’t already been said. Ironically, this amount of discourse is because we don’t know much about his life. It’s the same issue we face with Jane Austen.
An unremarkable son of unremarkable parents, it seems so unlikely (to some eyes) that he could become (possibly) the greatest playwright in the world, that many still argue he didn’t.
Other candidates include Thomas Marlowe, Francis Bacon and Edward De Vere. But the theories aren’t widely held. The lack of documentation about Shakespeare’s life give room for speculation, but there’s also a smidge of snobbery due to his perceived “lack” or education and standing.
It’s not conjecture to say he borrowed from previous and contemporary works for his own plays. But that just makes him, well, a writer!
William Shakespeare’s grave
William Shakespeare’s grave lies inside the Holy Trinity Church, just in front of the alter. You’ll find many other places connected to the great man all around Stratford-Upon-Avon. including his birthplace, his mother’s home, and his wife’s house (which I visit in this blog post). And the Royal Shakespeare Company is here too.
It’s widely accepted, although not 100% known, Shakespeare was born on 23 April, the same day he died. And as a side note – there’s a curse carved into the stone slab on top of William Shakespeare’s grave:
Good frend for Iesvs sake forbeare,
To digg the dvst encloased heare.
Bleste be ye man yt spares thes stones,
And cvrst be he yt moves my bones.
Which translates as don’t move my dead body or I’ll totally curse you. Because he may be dead, but that doesn’t mean you can screw with The Bard.
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