Letter reveals Shakespeare did not abandon his wife

Recent research has revealed that William Shakespeare's relationship with his wife, Anne Hathaway, may have been more positive than previously believed. For over two centuries, it has been widely accepted that Shakespeare abandoned Anne in their hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon when he moved to London. Many have interpreted his decision to leave her a small amount in his will as a sign of bitterness towards her. However, a newly examined fragment of a letter, addressed to 'good Mrs Shakespeare,' suggests that the couple actually lived together in central London between 1600 and 1610. This significant research was conducted by Professor Matthew Steggle from the University of Bristol's Department of English. The letter, which was accidentally preserved in the binding of a book in Hereford, indicates that Shakespeare was withholding money from an orphan boy named John Butts and was asking Anne for financial assistance instead. Professor Steggle stated, 'First discovered in 1978, the letter's been known for a while, but no one could identify the names or places involved or see any reason to think that the Mr Shakespeare in the letter was necessarily William rather than anyone else of the same name in the general period. ' This discovery not only sheds light on the Shakespeares' marriage but also provides insight into Shakespeare's connections in London. If the writing on the back of the letter is indeed a reply, it could represent the first known piece of writing attributed to Anne Hathaway. The letter mentions a fatherless apprentice, and through his research, Professor Steggle identified only one individual in London named John Butts who fits that description. Additionally, the letter references Trinity Lane, and among the four married couples with the surname Shakspaire known to be in London during that time, only William and Anne are likely to have resided in that area. Professor Steggle remarked, 'It at least doubles the number of letters known to be addressed to or sent from Shakespeare and his family. ' Currently, there is only one known letter. This discovery also reveals a new aspect of Shakespeare's life in London, providing him with a new address in Trinity Lane and a broader range of activities. Professor Steggle believes this research 'opens the door' to the possibility that Anne spent a significant amount of time with her husband in London. He cautioned, 'It's not a complete slam dunk, but it's a possibility that seems difficult to avoid, rather than a certainty. ' Author Maggie O'Farrell, who wrote the novel Hamnet, which fictionalizes the marriage between Shakespeare and Anne as they cope with the loss of their son, described the discovery as 'thrilling' and 'wonderful. ' O'Farrell pointed out that many respected scholars have made negative claims about Anne, suggesting she was unattractive, that Shakespeare despised her, or that she was illiterate and unintelligent. She stated, 'There is absolutely not one shred of evidence for any of that, and it's always baffled me as to why she attracts all this vilification and all this misogyny. ' O'Farrell expressed her delight in finding this small fragment of a letter, which was discovered in the binding of a book published in 1608, as it proves that Shakespeare and Anne did indeed love each other and likely lived together in London for a period of time. This new evidence helps to reshape our understanding of their relationship and challenges the long-held negative perceptions of Anne Hathaway.