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4d ago

Newly Analyzed Letter Suggests Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway Lived Together in London

Research from the University of Bristol reveals evidence of the couple's cohabitation and Anne Hathaway's financial role during Shakespeare's London career.

William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway depicted together in a nineteenth century painting.
Artist's rendition of William Shakespeare leaving his family to go to London
Image

Overview

  • A 17th-century letter fragment analyzed by researcher Matthew Steggle suggests William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway lived together in London from 1600 to 1610.
  • The letter, addressed to 'good Mrs Shakspaire,' was discovered in 1978 sewn into the binding of a theological book in Hereford and recently confirmed as authentic.
  • The letter describes a financial dispute involving a fatherless apprentice, John Butts, and highlights Hathaway's active management of household finances.
  • References in the letter place the Shakespeares on Trinity Lane, a prosperous area in London, challenging the long-held belief that Shakespeare left his family in Stratford.
  • This discovery prompts a re-evaluation of Shakespeare's personal life, suggesting a more engaged and collaborative relationship with Hathaway during his career.