Wikipedia:Main Page history/2011 April 23

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Today's featured article
The Shakespeare authorship question is the argument that someone other than William Shakespeare of Stratford-upon-Avon wrote the works traditionally attributed to him. Proponents (called "anti-Stratfordians") say that Shakespeare was a front to shield the identity of the real author or authors, who for some reason did not want or could not accept public credit. Although the idea has attracted much public interest, all but a few Shakespeare scholars and literary historians consider it a fringe belief, and for the most part disregard it except to rebut or disparage the claims. Despite the scholarly consensus, the controversy has spawned a vast body of literature, and more than 70 authorship candidates have been proposed, including Francis Bacon, the 6th Earl of Derby, Christopher Marlowe, and the 17th Earl of Oxford. In 2010 James S. Shapiro surveyed the topic in Contested Will: Who Wrote Shakespeare?, in which he criticised academia for ignoring the issue and effectively surrendering the field to anti-Stratfordians, marking the first time a recognised Shakespeare scholar has devoted a book to the topic. Filmmaker Roland Emmerich's next movie, Anonymous, starring Rhys Ifans and Vanessa Redgrave, portrays Oxford as the real author. (more...) Recently featured: Nafaanra language – Royal Maundy – Peterborough Archive – By email – More featured articles...
Did you know...
From Wikipedia's newest articles: ... that a portion of Black Eagle Dam (pictured) was dynamited on April 14, 1908, so that floodwaters from the collapsed Hauser Dam could pass through? ... that wrestler Charles B. Sprott sued the reigning World Heavyweight Champion in 1973 for calling him names in a parking lot? ... that Bright Angel, composed by Graham Waterhouse for three bassoons and contrabassoon, relates to the Bright Angel Trail of the Grand Canyon which the composer hiked with his father at the age of nine? ... that Alimuddin Zumla was the first Zambian doctor to be shortlisted for the BMJ Group's Lifetime Achievement Award? ... that organocerium compounds can serve as an "environmentally friendly alternative" to other organometallic reagents? ... that the first musical episode of Grey's Anatomy was conceived over seven years before it was produced, while the series was still untitled? ... that a conspiracy of silence surrounded the fate of English cricketer Walter Gilbert for 60 years after his death? Archive – Start a new article – Nominate an article

In the news
Sukhoi Superjet 100 At least 50 people are reported killed in the biggest day of protests in Syria this year. The Sukhoi Superjet 100 (pictured), the first airliner developed from start to finish in post-Soviet Russia, performs its first commercial flight. Photographers Tim Hetherington and Chris Hondros are killed in the Battle of Misrata in Libya. Goodluck Jonathan is elected President of Nigeria. Fidel Castro resigns from the Communist Party of Cuba's central committee. A Visit From the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan wins the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Wikinews – Recent deaths – More current events...
On this day...
April 23: World Book and Copyright Day; St George's Day in various countries; Children's Day in Turkey; Holy Saturday (Christianity, 2011) 1348 – The first-ever appointments to the Order of the Garter, an order of chivalry founded by King Edward III of England and still bestowed on recipients in the Commonwealth realms, were announced. 1661 – Charles II was crowned King of England, Ireland, and Scotland at Westminster Abbey. 1942 – World War II: In retaliation for the Royal Air Force bombing of Lübeck several weeks prior, the Luftwaffe began a series of bombing raids in England, starting with Exeter. 1961 – In the midst of the Algerian War, President Charles de Gaulle delivered a televised speech calling on the military personnel and civilians of France to oppose the Algiers putsch, a coup d'état attempt against him. 2010 – Governor of Arizona Jan Brewer (pictured) signed the controversial anti-illegal immigration bill SB 1070 into law. More anniversaries: April 22 – April 23 – April 24 Archive – By email – List of historical anniversaries It is now April 23, 2011 (UTC) – Refresh this page

Today's featured picture

The Sacred Kingfisher (Todiramphus sanctus) is a tree kingfisher found in the mangroves, forests, and river valleys of Australasia and Indonesia. It is 19–23 cm (7.5–9.1 in) long, and feeds on insects, small crustaceans, fish, small rodents and reptiles.

Photo: Fir0002

Recently featured: Kiss of Judas – Marken peninsula, Netherlands – Vauxhall Gardens

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