59 – The number of references to the river Avon in Shakespeare’s works.
26 – The number of those references which describe the river in flood (the Avon in flood was, and remains, a perilous thing).
24 feet – The height that the river rose in the summer of 1588, over a period of just 8 hours.
Did You Know?
Recent archeological work at Elizabethan theatre sites by the British Museum have shown that the groundlings (standing patrons) at Shakespearean plays enjoyed snacking on nuts, grapes, plums, elderberries, figs, cherries, and apples, as well as mussels, periwinkles, oysters, whelks and even cuttlefish.
108 – The number of plants alluded to in Shakespeare’s plays.
60 – The number of species of birds referenced in the plays.
50% – The approximate number of Shakespeare’s plays that had been published (in smaller, ‘quarto’ versions) prior to the First Folio.
Did You Know?
There are a number of plays that we might otherwise have lost but for the First Folio. These include Antony and Cleopatra, Macbeth, Twelfth Night and Coriolanus.
7 – The number of years after Shakespeare’s death that the comprehensive First Folio was published.
4 – The number of folios published in the 17th century; 1623 (the First Folio), 1632, 1663, 1685.
Enjoyed learning all about William Shakespeare’s plays? See the complete list of his plays, explore some of the 154 Shakespearean sonnets, dip into some fascinating facts about the biography of William Shakespeare, or browse through some of Shakespeare’s famous quotes. We’ve a world of information here at William Shakespeare facts to help you get to know the bard a little better.