@ProfShakespeare
@profshakespeare.bsky.social
Professor Emerita, University of Reading; Founder & Director https://henslowe-alleyn.org.uk; Shakespeare, drama, theatre history, literature and manuscripts expert.
On December 26, 1606, the King’s Men performed #Shakespeare’s play “King Lear” for their patron James I and his guests at Whitehall Palace on “St Stephen’s Night in the Christmas Holidays”, as its Quarto 1 title page proudly advertises:
#BoxingDay #StStephensDay
#BoxingDay #StStephensDay
December 26, 2025 at 12:34 PM
On December 26, 1606, the King’s Men performed #Shakespeare’s play “King Lear” for their patron James I and his guests at Whitehall Palace on “St Stephen’s Night in the Christmas Holidays”, as its Quarto 1 title page proudly advertises:
#BoxingDay #StStephensDay
#BoxingDay #StStephensDay
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Merry Christmas! Michelle and I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with light and joy.
December 25, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Merry Christmas! Michelle and I hope you have a wonderful holiday filled with light and joy.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Because I ate it for lunch.
December 24, 2025 at 6:40 PM
'Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. Because I ate it for lunch.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Whoops 🤷🏼♂️ LOL #CalvinandHobbes #Christmas
December 25, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Whoops 🤷🏼♂️ LOL #CalvinandHobbes #Christmas
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
How delicately a Romanesque angel uses the lightest touch of a finger to wake one of the magi, snuggled with the other 2 under their embroidered circular blanket at St Lazare, Autun, c1130 (& how beautifully the textures of pillow & blanket are represented).
Season's greetings to you all!
Season's greetings to you all!
December 25, 2025 at 7:01 AM
How delicately a Romanesque angel uses the lightest touch of a finger to wake one of the magi, snuggled with the other 2 under their embroidered circular blanket at St Lazare, Autun, c1130 (& how beautifully the textures of pillow & blanket are represented).
Season's greetings to you all!
Season's greetings to you all!
“I see the trick on't! Here was a consent,
Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
Some mumble-news”.
(#Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost)
#MerryChristmas
Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
Some mumble-news”.
(#Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost)
#MerryChristmas
December 25, 2025 at 11:50 AM
“I see the trick on't! Here was a consent,
Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
Some mumble-news”.
(#Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost)
#MerryChristmas
Knowing aforehand of our merriment,
To dash it like a Christmas comedy:
Some carry-tale, some please-man, some slight zany,
Some mumble-news”.
(#Shakespeare, Love’s Labour’s Lost)
#MerryChristmas
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
A little selection of my favourite words for the season. Some beautiful, others potentially necessary. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
twowords2.page.link/play
twowords2.page.link/play
December 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
A little selection of my favourite words for the season. Some beautiful, others potentially necessary. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.
twowords2.page.link/play
twowords2.page.link/play
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
"Two Rabbits with a Sled' (1894) illustration by celebrated English author Beatrix Potter
#Womensart ❄️
#Womensart ❄️
December 23, 2025 at 3:20 AM
"Two Rabbits with a Sled' (1894) illustration by celebrated English author Beatrix Potter
#Womensart ❄️
#Womensart ❄️
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Mary, Queen of Scots, in her brief but glorious moment as queen consort of France in 1559. Painted by Francois Clouet, whose day is today.
December 22, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Mary, Queen of Scots, in her brief but glorious moment as queen consort of France in 1559. Painted by Francois Clouet, whose day is today.
This is such a beautiful exhibit: “Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World” @NPGLondon. Highly recommended:
www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhi...
www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhi...
December 23, 2025 at 10:41 AM
This is such a beautiful exhibit: “Cecil Beaton’s Fashionable World” @NPGLondon. Highly recommended:
www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhi...
www.npg.org.uk/whatson/exhi...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Seems like it's worth posting this one again.
Why Do Historians Still Have To Go To Archives?
Why do historians go to archives? Hasn’t everything already been digitized?
contingentmagazine.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:40 AM
When we say "no, everything hasn't been digitized," I need you to understand that we really mean is that virtually nothing has been digitized. This is because the realm of primary sources that historians use is incomprehensibly large.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, beautifully portrayed in 1571 by Francois Clouet, painter of the French renaissance court. It's his day today.
December 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Elisabeth of Austria, Queen of France, beautifully portrayed in 1571 by Francois Clouet, painter of the French renaissance court. It's his day today.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Happy Winter Solstice!
On midwinter’s day, the sun sets between the pair of stones that form the largest trilithon at #Stonehenge
Farewell to the shortest day of the year, as we look forward to lighter days ahead! ☀️
#StandingStoneSunday
#Archaeology
On midwinter’s day, the sun sets between the pair of stones that form the largest trilithon at #Stonehenge
Farewell to the shortest day of the year, as we look forward to lighter days ahead! ☀️
#StandingStoneSunday
#Archaeology
December 21, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Happy Winter Solstice!
On midwinter’s day, the sun sets between the pair of stones that form the largest trilithon at #Stonehenge
Farewell to the shortest day of the year, as we look forward to lighter days ahead! ☀️
#StandingStoneSunday
#Archaeology
On midwinter’s day, the sun sets between the pair of stones that form the largest trilithon at #Stonehenge
Farewell to the shortest day of the year, as we look forward to lighter days ahead! ☀️
#StandingStoneSunday
#Archaeology
A devastating report on the treatment of staff @britishlibrary:
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
The worst of times: Trouble at the British Library
Cyber chaos, striking staff and a crisis of leadership. Claudia Cockerell investigates a national treasure’s year of reckoning
www.standard.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
A devastating report on the treatment of staff @britishlibrary:
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
We all need some good and proper boundaries
Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church
CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church
CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
December 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
We all need some good and proper boundaries
Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church
CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
Here the borders surround various texts by Robert Grosseteste, Bishop of Lincoln (1235-1253) on pastoral care and the teachings of the Church
CCCC MS 257, ff. 9r and 181r
parker.stanford.edu/parker/catal...
#ManuscriptMonday
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Most wonderful lace collar on this woman. Very charming! Painted by Paul van Somer, whose day is today.
December 18, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Most wonderful lace collar on this woman. Very charming! Painted by Paul van Somer, whose day is today.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
The first Earl of Monmouth & his family, portrayed at full length to show off their clothing! By Paul van Somer, whose day is today.
December 19, 2025 at 1:26 AM
The first Earl of Monmouth & his family, portrayed at full length to show off their clothing! By Paul van Somer, whose day is today.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Margaret Sackville, later Countess of Thanet, aged 4 & sporting some truly alarming hair styling. Painted by Paul van Somer, whose day was today.
December 19, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Margaret Sackville, later Countess of Thanet, aged 4 & sporting some truly alarming hair styling. Painted by Paul van Somer, whose day was today.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Frida Kahlo,
Self Portrait with Necklace, 1933 #womensart
Self Portrait with Necklace, 1933 #womensart
December 18, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Frida Kahlo,
Self Portrait with Necklace, 1933 #womensart
Self Portrait with Necklace, 1933 #womensart
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Which words have given you happiness this year? I’d love to hear them.
(And if you fancy some distraction over the holidays, do give my word game Two Words a try.
twowords2.page.link/play)
(And if you fancy some distraction over the holidays, do give my word game Two Words a try.
twowords2.page.link/play)
December 18, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Which words have given you happiness this year? I’d love to hear them.
(And if you fancy some distraction over the holidays, do give my word game Two Words a try.
twowords2.page.link/play)
(And if you fancy some distraction over the holidays, do give my word game Two Words a try.
twowords2.page.link/play)
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Paul van Somer of Antwerp. Emigrated to London & made it good at the court of James I. Here, girl with a pearl earring, and some pretty amazing cuffs.
December 18, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Today's artist without a (known) birthday: Paul van Somer of Antwerp. Emigrated to London & made it good at the court of James I. Here, girl with a pearl earring, and some pretty amazing cuffs.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
To mark Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we hosted Wild About Jane Austen: The Woman Behind the Novels, an event exploring Austen as an ambitious, politically aware writer.
Watch the full event on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_V...
#BritishLibrary #Libraries #JaneAusten250
Watch the full event on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_V...
#BritishLibrary #Libraries #JaneAusten250
Wild About Jane Austen: The Woman Behind the Novels
YouTube video by British Library
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 PM
To mark Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we hosted Wild About Jane Austen: The Woman Behind the Novels, an event exploring Austen as an ambitious, politically aware writer.
Watch the full event on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_V...
#BritishLibrary #Libraries #JaneAusten250
Watch the full event on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4_V...
#BritishLibrary #Libraries #JaneAusten250
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, looking just insanely dashing as painted by Paul van Somer. Today is his day.
December 18, 2025 at 2:48 PM
George Villiers, 1st Duke of Buckingham, looking just insanely dashing as painted by Paul van Somer. Today is his day.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
2026 will be the year I return to the correspondence of the boar-spearing Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662), sometime Queen of Bohemia, ridiculed by most historians as The Winter Queen but known in the 17thc as The Queen of 💕. If I have missed any letters in Volumes 1-2, DM me or forever hold your peace.
December 16, 2025 at 6:28 PM
2026 will be the year I return to the correspondence of the boar-spearing Elizabeth Stuart (1596-1662), sometime Queen of Bohemia, ridiculed by most historians as The Winter Queen but known in the 17thc as The Queen of 💕. If I have missed any letters in Volumes 1-2, DM me or forever hold your peace.
Reposted by @ProfShakespeare
Wow, this ancient Egyptian linen shirt is the world’s oldest known complex woven garment. Known as the Tarkhan Dress, it was cut and tailored to fit some 5,000 years ago!
📷 Petrie Museum. : antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/ste...
#Archaeology
📷 Petrie Museum. : antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/ste...
#Archaeology
December 16, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Wow, this ancient Egyptian linen shirt is the world’s oldest known complex woven garment. Known as the Tarkhan Dress, it was cut and tailored to fit some 5,000 years ago!
📷 Petrie Museum. : antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/ste...
#Archaeology
📷 Petrie Museum. : antiquity.ac.uk/projgall/ste...
#Archaeology