Stratford-on-Avon

Stratford-on-Avon is the place where the greatest dramatist and poet of the English literature William Shakespeare was born and died (1564-1616). April 23rd is the day on which Shakespeare was born and also the day on which he died.

Stratford is a very interesting town in the centre of England. So Shakespeare was born right in the heart of England and in the midst of the country. There are beautiful woods, green fields, a Shakespeare was born and died (1564-16161. April 23rd is the day on which Shakespeare was born and also the day on which he died.

Stratford is quite a busy town, especially on market day when the farmers from the country-side round Stratford come to buy or sell cows or pigs or sheep.

Of all the buildings in Stratford, none possesses greater fascination and interest than those associated with Shakespeare and his family. They are maintained as a memorial to the poet.

The main centres of interest include the Birthplace itself, Anne Hathaway's Cottage (the early home of Shakespeare's wife), the foundations and gardens of New Place (where Shake

speare died), Hall's Croft (the home of his daughter, Susanna), Mary Arden's House (the home of the poet's mother) at Wilmcote, the red brick Shakespeare Memorial Theatre and the beautiful Holy Trinity Church (which is Shakespeare's burial place),

'William Shakespeare was born in the house in Henly Street preserved as his birthplace. There is the very room where Shakespeare was born. Lots of people who had visited the house had written their names on the walls. It seems a wrong thing to do — although among the names are Walter Scott, and Thackeray.

In one room is a little wooden desk, the very desk Shakespeare sat in when he went to the grammar school in Stratford. There is a garden behind the house, in it are growing all the flowers, trees and plants that are mentioned in Shake

speare's plays.

When Shakespeare became successful in London he bought the biggest house in Stratford, a house called New Place, to retire to. Now there is nothing left of it but a few bricks and the garden. The man who owned it, Mr Gastrell, was so bad-tempered, because so many people came to see the house that he pulled it down (in 1758).

In Stratford is the church where Shakespeare is buried. There's a bust of Shakespeare that was carved by a Dutch sculptor who lived near Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and must have seen Shakespeare many a time, and on the stone of Shakespeare's grave are the lines written by Shakespeare himself.

About a mile out of Stratford is Anne Hathaway's Cottage. (Anne Hathaway was the woman that Shakespeare married at the age of 18.) This cottage is just as it was in Shakespeare's time. In that little house one feels as if Shakespeare has come walking down the narrow stairs.

The Shakespeare Memorial Theatre is also in Stratford-on-Avon. Shakespeare's plays are performed for eight months each year and thousands of people from all parts of the world come to see them. Shakespeare’s 400th birthday was widely celebrated in 1964 all over the world.

Ben Johnson, who lived from 1572 to 1637, and who was also a famous writer of plays, called Shakespeare "Sweet Swan' of Avon". Shakespeare has been known as the "Swan of Avon" ever since.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-14