大象传媒

In the summer of 1582, Will was 18 and met his future wife, Anne Hathaway who was 26. By the summer he was making love to her, later they married when she was pregnant and soon after their first child was born.

Anne was her own boss. Her father had died, leaving her some money, making her free to make her own decisions. Anne offered a compelling dream of pleasure. Love-making in the sense of intense courting and loving was one of Shakespeare's major themes in his writing - as was the married state - happy or unhappy.

In the summer of 1583, 19-year-old Shakespeare had a new born daughter and by 1585 the couple had twins. At some point shortly after, Shakespeare made his way to London, turning his back on wife and children. Could he have joined the Queen's Men, a touring acting group who had visited Stratford?

Written by Stephen Greenblatt

Abridged by Miranda Davies

Read by Toby Stephens

Excerpts read by Alice Hart and John Rowe

Producer Emma Harding

First broadcast on 大象传媒 Radio 4 in October 2004.