THE UNION JACK.

The national flag of the UK, the Union Jack, unites the designs of three older flags, which each represent one of the three countries in the UK.

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. While the exact date wasn't recorded, it has been commonly accepted as April 23. His father was a glove maker and an important man in the town. It is believed that Shakespeare left school around the age of fourteen, which was not uncommon at the time. He married Anne Hathaway in 1582 when he was eighteen years old. His writings have been translated into more languages than those of any other authors.

Shakespeare is credited with 39 plays including Hamlet, Macbeth, Othelo, Romeo and Juliet

MIGUEL DE CERVANTES

Born: Miguel de Cervantes 29 September 1547 (1547-09-29) Alcalá de Henares, Crown of Castile Died: April 23rd , 1616 (aged 68) Madrid, Crown of Castile Resting place: Convent of the Barefoot Trinitarians, Madrid Occupation: Novelist, poet, playwright, soldier Language: Spanish Nationality: Spanish Notable work(s): Don Quijote, Novelas ejemplares.

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INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE BOOK

April twenty third is a symbolic day in world literature. Declared as international Day of the book by UNESCO in 1995, this celebration of books and literature draws its inspiration from a catalan tradition, the festival of the Rose.

Legend has it that Saint George, Patron Saint of Catalonia (Spain) and international knight-errant, slew a dragon about to devour a beautiful Catalan princess. From the dragon's blood sprouted a rosebush, from which the hero plucked the prettiest rose for the princess. Hence the traditional Rose Festival celebrated in Barcelona since the Middle Ages to honor chivalry and love. In 1923, this lover's "festa" became even more poetic when it merged with "el dia del llibre", or The Day of the Book, to mark the nearly simultaneous deaths of Miguel de Cervantes and William Shakespeare, the two giants of literary history, on April 23, 1616.

REVISION. ENGLISH ALIVE

You can IMPROVE your English doing these activities. Click here:
http://www.juntadeandalucia.es/averroes/~red/ingles/alive/1/shell.htm