Letter reveals Shakespeare did not abandon his wife

The relationship between William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway may have been happier than previously thought, according to new research.
For more than 200 years it has been believed that Shakespeare left his wife in Stratford-upon-Avon when he travelled to London and that a decision to leave her almost nothing in his will meant he probably felt bitterness towards her.
However, examination of a fragment of a letter, which is addressed to “good Mrs Shakespeare”, appears to show they did live together in central London between 1600-1610.
The research was carried out by Prof Matthew Steggle from the University of Bristol’s Department of English.
In the letter, which was preserved by accident in the binding of a book in Hereford, it is alleged that Shakespeare is withholding money from an orphan boy named John Butts, with the letter asking Mrs Shakespeare for money instead.

Source: BBC | Language: English