Shakespeare, William

Shakespeare, William (1564-1616), poet, playwright, b. Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England.

The first account of William Shakespeare's life was written nearly one hundred years after his death. Because of this, the story is not complete.

His father was a glove maker and trader in wool, hides and grain, and he probably sent William to the local grammar school.

At the age of eighteen, William married a farmer's daughter, Anne Hathaway, and they had three children. Then William left Stratford.

In 1592, he was in London writing and acting in plays.

In those times, a company of actors remained at the same theatre, performing different plays from week to week.

From 1599, Shakespeare's company performed in the open air at the Globe Theatre at Southwark, and in 1608 they bought the Blackfriars Theatre for their winter performances.

Shakespeare's work made him rich. He returned to Stratford in 1597 and bought a splendid house called New Place.

He died in his home town and he was buried there in Holy Trinity Church. His tombstone can be seen there today.

Shakespeare wrote thirty-seven plays. No other writer's plays have been performed so many times in so many countries and his works are among those that have been translated into the most foreign languages.

His plays include historical plays such as Henry V and Richard II, tragedies such as Macbeth and Hamlet and comedies like Twelfth Night and A Midsummer Night's Dream.

In modern times many of them have been made into movies and presented on television.

He also wrote a great deal of poetry.

He is said to be the greatest playwright to have ever written in the English language.

See The Complete Pelican Shakespeare (Pelican Shakespeare) ~ Stanley W. Wells