Shakespeare - His Life and Work Author:Anthony Holden Not only was Shakespeare a covert Catholic, who spent his so-called "lost years" as a budding actor in Catholic households in Lancashire under the name of "Shakeshafte," but he also suffered from sexually transmitted diseases, a nervous breakdown, fathered an illegitimate son via his middle-aged landlady, and sailed close to the political wind w... more »ith what Holden sees as his residual Catholic and "republican instincts."« less