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Signature. William Shakespeare (c. 23 [ a ] April 1564 – 23 April 1616) [ b ] was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. [ 4 ][ 5 ][ 6 ] He is often called England's national poet and the " Bard of Avon " (or simply "the Bard").
- Overview
- Life
Shakespeare married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, when he was 18. They had three children: Susanna and twins Judith and Hamnet. Hamnet died at the age of 11.
Read more below: Shakespeare the man: Life
How many plays did Shakespeare write?
There is some dispute about how many plays Shakespeare wrote. The general consensus is 37.
Read more below: Chronology of Shakespeare’s plays
First Folio
Although the amount of factual knowledge available about Shakespeare is surprisingly large for one of his station in life, many find it a little disappointing, for it is mostly gleaned from documents of an official character. Dates of baptisms, marriages, deaths, and burials; wills, conveyances, legal processes, and payments by the court—these are the dusty details. There are, however, many contemporary allusions to him as a writer, and these add a reasonable amount of flesh and blood to the biographical skeleton.
Britannica Quiz
Shakespeare's Patrons. As a member of the acting company called the Chamberlain's Men, which from 1603 were known as the King's Men, Shakespeare enjoyed the patronage of the Lord Chamberlain George Carey 2nd Lord Hunsdon and then of James I. Early in his career as a writer Shakespeare dedicated Venus and Adonis (1593) and The Rape of Lucrece ...
A list of some of the most important and best-known works by William Shakespeare. More than 400 years after they were written, Shakespeare’s plays and poems are still widely performed, read, and studied—not only in his native England, but also all around the world.
Oct 3, 2011 · William Shakespeare (1564‑1616), considered the greatest English‑speaking writer in history and England’s national poet, has had more theatrical works performed than any other playwright.
Aug 21, 2024 · William Shakespeare was an English poet, ... Shakespeare’s works—at least 37 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems—capture the range of human emotion and conflict and have been ...
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For an overview of William Shakespeare's life, see Shakespeare's Life: A Timeline; Shakespeare in London. Shakespeare's career jump-started in London, but when did he go there? We know Shakespeare's twins were baptised in 1585, and that by 1592 his reputation was established in London, but the intervening years are considered a mystery.
