Amy Reiter

Literary historians have not been kind to Ann Shakespeare, ne Hathaway. She is painted as old, ugly and desperate, leading poor William astray, trapping him into a loveless marriage at age 18 (she was a ripe 26). Or maybe she was beautiful and sexually experienced and…unfaithful. Perhaps her talented husband hated her — or lived in fear of her. In fact, little is known about William Shakespeare’s wife, the mother of his three children, whom he married in 1582 …

In Brief: “Shakespeare’s Wife” (The Barnes & Noble Review)