'Upstart Crow'—who insulted Shakespeare, and why?

'Upstart Crow'—who insulted Shakespeare, and why?

New research has cast fresh doubt on the origins of one of the most famous insults aimed at William Shakespeare, pointing the finger at a friend of the Bard.

Shakespeare’s ’Upstart Crow’ insult may have come from a collaborator

20.06.2025 - A team of researchers, including Dr Rachel White from our Department of English Studies, has presented new evidence about one of the most famous insults in English literature - the phrase 'upstart crow' aimed at William Shakespeare.