Shakespeare crosses swords with Bloomsday!

My new book also includes the Bard of Avon, James Joyce and many other famous Irish and English writers.

As well as being 100 years since Ireland’s Easter Rising, 2016 marks 400 years since the death of William Shakespeare, the world-famous Bard of Avon – with lots of events throughout his birthplace of Stratford-upon-Avon, the UK and worldwide to celebrate his enduring life and work. So I couldn’t resist including Shakespeare in my magic history adventure, which at one point features a crazy debate between English and Irish writers over the Book of Kells.

At one point Shakespeare crosses swords with another famous writer – who is much more well-known for doing something else – in a wonderful old hall in Trinity College, Dublin. Can you guess who is making Shakespeare so angry?

And of course not forgetting the Irish side of the great debate… which is why this post is dated June 16. Do you know why this date is important, and do you recognise anyone in the illustration below?