New letter reveals Shakespeare's marriage was happier than believed

In recent research, a fragment of a letter preserved in the binding of a book offers new insights into the marriage of William Shakespeare and Anne Hathaway. For over 200 years, it was widely assumed that Shakespeare abandoned his wife when he moved to London, leaving her little in his will and fostering a narrative of bitterness towards her. However, Professor Matthew Steggle from the University of Bristol argues that the newly analyzed letter, believed to be written between 1600 and 1610, suggests the couple lived together in London during that time. The letter, addressed to 'good Mrs Shakespeare', indicates that Anne Hathaway was involved in her husband's financial dealings and disputes while they cohabited in the city. This discovery challenges long-held perceptions of their relationship as distanced and highlights Anne's role in Shakespeare's London life, presenting her as more engaged than previously thought. The letter’s details, including mention of a fatherless boy named John Butts and its reference to Trinity Lane, strongly tie it to the Shakespeares, reinforcing the notion of an active marital partnership rather than a strained separation. This research not only provides a platform for reevaluating Shakespeare's marital life but also opens avenues for further investigation into his domestic and social life in London.