(Patrick Spottiswoode’s article appeared in the Guardian, 10/6.)
A Moroccan interviewer once asked me to confirm that Shakespeare was an Arab. An Iraqi interviewer asked if I could be more exact: Shakespeare was born in Basra, wasn't he? Their tongues were in-cheek, of course, but it's worth remembering that while Shakespeare was voted British Person of the Millennium by listeners of Radio 4's Today programme, several other countries have been willing to offer him citizenship. His plays have now been translated into over 90 languages.
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