William the Bard
Possibly one of the most recognised litterateurs of all time, William Shakespeare has become synonymous with the paragon of stage writings. We all know his work, be it Hamlet or Romeo & Juliet or any one of his many other works that span his illustrious career. And at some stage we all want to be in a Shakespeare play. Some want to be Edmund others Cornwall, and some even Iago. Some never leave the theatre....
One of my favorite spots in Central Park in New York City is the "Literary Walk" on the South End side of The Mall where you will find many literary statues, one of which is The Bard himself. I always make a point of sitting near his statue and relax in the perfect surroundings that even he could not have wished to be better. See you soon, Bill
Here is the statue :
Here is a short extract from the Central Park Concervancy :
The monument to William Shakespeare (1564–1616) is located at the southern end of the Mall, in the section known as “Literary Walk” because of the numerous statues of writers
After reading about the construction of Shakespeare memorials in England and Germany, a group of prominent New Yorkers decided to form a Shakespeare monument committee to advocate for one in the City. The group included the actor Edwin Booth and the playwright and theater director Augustin Daly, both instrumental in promoting and popularizing Shakespeare’s works in America.
The cornerstone for the monument was laid in the Park in 1864, the 300th anniversary of the Bard’s birth, but the Civil War delayed the effort to complete the monument for several years. The renowned sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward created the likeness of Shakespeare based on three contemporary portraits. The monument was dedicated on May 23, 1872. Ward has several other notable sculptures in the Park, including Indian Hunter, The Pilgrim, and the Seventh Regiment Memorial.
Unlike some of the other historical figures monumentalized in the Park, Shakespeare is still widely known, and has an even larger presence in Central Park. Park visitors can see a Shakespeare play at the Delacorte Theater during the summer or stroll through Shakespeare Garden, which features plants mentioned in his work.
https://www.centralparknyc.org/locations/william-shakespeare