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William Shakespeare

Actors Dominic Rowan (L) and Miranda Raison perform as Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn in Shakespeare's "Henry VIII" at Shakespeare's Globe in London.

Yes, Shakespeare coined words. But that’s just the start of his contribution to the English language

Arts, Culture & Media

Shakespeare may not have invented as many words as once thought, but he turned the English language on its head. Perhaps that’s the reason both he and English have such global appeal. Shakespeare may not have invented as many words as once thought, but he turned the English language on its head. Perhaps that’s the reason both he and English have such global appeal.

Shakespeare's Alvearie

Shakespeare’s fountain of brilliant words: Has it been found?

Arts, Culture & Media
Shakespeare's Alvearie

Shakespeare’s fountain of brilliant words: Has it been found?

Arts, Culture & Media
Actors Dominic Rowan (R) and Kate Duchene perform as Henry VIII and Queen Katherine in Shakespeare's Henry VIII at the Globe theatre in London July 6, 2010.

‘Enough with the goddamned Shakespeare already.’ Aren’t there other great old plays?

Arts, Culture & Media

After getting tangled in Spider-Man, Julie Taymor turns back to Shakespeare

Arts, Culture & Media

Did William Shakespeare really invent all those words?

Arts, Culture & Media

Swagger, grovel, gossip, hint, critic. Scholars say 1,600 or so words have come to us from William Shakespeare.

Did William Shakespeare really invent all those words?

Arts, Culture & Media

Scholars and the OED have cited Shakespeare as the originator of more than 1600 words. While he was the first to write down many words, new research fueled by computer analysis indicates he didn’t invent as many words as once thought.

Modern Hamlet achieves record-breaking Kickstarter campaign

Arts, Culture & Media

A book allowing readers to choose their own fate has become the most successful publishing campaign ever. The campaign, run on Kickstarter, an online funding platform, has generated more than 29 times the amount of money needed to make the book viable.

Shakespeare returns to Kabul

Arts, Culture & Media

“Love’s Labour’s Lost” is the first Shakespeare play to be performed in Afghanistan since the Soviet invasion of 1979.

How To Swear Like Shakespeare

On yesterday’s show, we looked at the evolution of swearing over the past 75 years–from the days when “damn” first appeared on the big screen in “Gone with the Wind,” to the present day when the “F-word” is routinely written into basic cable shows. It’s a conversation that ruffled many feathers. Dozens of you wrote […]