You Don't Look a Day Over 445....

Happy Birthday Shakespeare!

No one really knows the exact date of Shakespeare’s birth, although he was baptized on April 26,1564, and died on April 23, 1616. April 23 is also St. George's Day, and this may be why it was decided to observe the birth of England’s greatest poet and dramatist on the feast day of England’s patron saint.

Shakespeare's contributions to the richness and beauty of the English language are still recognized today -- phrases like 'taking a pound of flesh', 'wearing our heart on our sleeves,' and 'to be eaten out of house and home' all began with the Bard.

Check out one of his plays!  The library's Shakespeare video collection contains many traditional and contemporary productions.  Or, stream and play a performance using Theatre in Video.