Stratford On Avon And A Dash of Oxford-July 10

Early morn we left London by bus for Oxford University. Once there, I struck out on my own to visit the Eagle and Child pub on St. Giles Street. This is where C.S. Lewis, Tolkien and other Inklings nursed, sipped or guzzled pints of ale while discussing works in progress such as Narnia and Lord of the Rings. It was closed. I'll drink in the pub's atmosphere on our return trip to Oxford, July 19. Walking to the university I visited Bodleian library's Divinity collection and heard a brief lecture about its history. The library's multi-million volume collection includes a rare copy of the Magna Carta and an ancient Egyptian papyrus. Bodleian is a copyright library which means it automatically receives at least one copy of newly published books. It is a reference library only. Even kings cannot borrow a book. Handsome St. Mary the Virgin Church showcased famous and influential clergymen such as John Wesley, founder of Methodism, and John Henry Cardinal Newman, founder of the 19th century Oxford Movement. Left Oxford and continued on to Shakespeare's Stratford on Avon for the rest of the day. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, an independent charity supported solely by corporate and non corporate donations, administers all of Stratford's Shakespeare properties. Saw Shakespeare's birth home which William's parents occupied by 1552. William, born in 1564, was raised in this house. Nash's House/New Place was William's retirement home which he bought for £60. After his death in 1616, the house went to his daughter, Susana and her husband Dr. John Hall. They in turn left the house to their daughter, Elizabeth. After her death, the house was bought by a clergyman who razed most of the house to spite the taxman. Hall's Croft was where Susana and her husband, Dr. John Hall, lived prior to moving to Nash House. Capped off our stay in Stratford with a live performance of Macbeth at the Royal Shakespeare Company's Swan theater. Actor Patrick O'Kane wonderfully displayed Macbeth's torment and conflict caused by colliding royal ambition and human decency. Lady Macbeth has even stronger ambitions than her husband but unlike him is not bothered by any moral considerations. She is pure evil. Her cold-blooded manipulation of Macbeth was masterfully played out by actress Pauline Hutton. Macbeth was wonderfully violent, loud and action-packed. It was 1 A.M. when we got back to London.