6 books compete for nonfiction 'winner of winners' prize
Books that explore subjects from William Shakespeare and The Beatles to the lure of Mount Everest and life inside one of the world’s most secretive states are competing to be named the best-ever winner of Britain’s leading nonfiction book prize
washingtonpost.comAgatha Christie's mysterious disappearance: What really happened?
Agatha Christie's mysterious disappearance: What really happened? Author Agatha Christie has sold an estimated 2 billion copies of her works, second only to the Bible and the works of William Shakespeare. But as people continue reading her mysteries today, many have forgotten about the biggest mystery in Christie's own life — a sensational disappearance that took place not long after WWI. That disappearance is the focus of a new novel by Marie Benedict. Jeff Glor sat down with her.
cbsnews.comFinal goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2020
The world also said goodbye to U.S. Rep. John Lewis, a lion of the civil rights movement who died in July. Other former political figures who died this year include Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak, New York Mayor David Dinkins, Arizona Gov. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2020 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___David Stern, 77. The guitarist who supplied the scratching, seething sound that fueled the highly influential British punk band Gang of Four. He fused African rhythms with funk to become one of the most influential musicians in world dance music.
Maggie O'Farrell's Shakespearean 'Hamnet' wins Women's Prize
LONDON Maggie OFarrell won the Womens Prize for Fiction on Wednesday for Hamnet, a novel that explores the lives of William Shakespeares often-maligned wife and lost son. OFarrells novel beat finalists including Hilary Mantels Tudor saga The Mirror and the Light and Bernardine Evaristos Booker Prize winner Girl, Woman, Other to the 30,000-pound ($39,000) award. The Northern Ireland-born O'Farrell said she had long been fascinated by Hamnet Shakespeare, who died aged 11 in 1596 likely from the plague. Shakespeare himself is never mentioned by name in Hamnet, which centers on his children and wife Anne Hathaway, called Agnes in the book. OFarrell said Hathaway has been portrayed as an illiterate strumpet because she was uneducated and eight years older than Shakespeare.
'Exorcist' actor Max von Sydow dies at age 90
"It is with a broken heart and with infinite sadness that we have the extreme pain of announcing the departure of Max von Sydow,” Diamond said. In 1980, von Sydow starred as the evil emperor Ming the Merciless in "Flash Gordon." He was baptized Carl Adolf von Sydow, but later changed his first name to Max. “I’m very grateful to the schooling I had in Sweden because in order to learn acting you have to work, work, work,” he said. Von Sydow married Swedish actress Christina Olin in 1951 and had two sons, Clas and Henrik.
Shakespeare fans can win a stay at Juliet's home on Valentine's Day through Airbnb
Now, you and your star-crossed lover have the opportunity to stay in Juliet's historic home in fair Verona, Italy poison not included. Airbnb is granting one couple access to the site where William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" made their first declaration of love to each other. On February 14, the 13th century Casa di Giulietta is allowing one couple to stay there for the first time since the 1930s. Juliet's balcony, where William Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet" made their first declaration of love to each other. All love letters must be submitted by February 2 at 11:59 p.m.
cbsnews.comHistorian claims to have uncovered first ever Shakespeare portrait
Historian Mark Griffiths claims to have decoded directions to the first known images of historic playwright William Shakespeare. However, some experts are skeptical. CBSN's Elaine Quijano reports on the controversial claim.
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