William Shakespeare
Also known as The Bard, The Bard of Avon, Swan of Avon, Bard of Avon
William Shakespeare 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. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" or simply "the Bard". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
AI overview
William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor who created around 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and other works that are widely considered the greatest in the English language. His plays have been translated into every major language and are performed more frequently than any other playwright's work, making him arguably the most influential writer in English literary history.
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Person · Open Library
- Born
- 20 April 1564
- Died
- 23 April 1616
- Works
- 12277
Top works
- The works of William Shakespeare
- Shakespeare's tragedy of King Richard the Third
- Shakespeare's comedy of the Two gentlemen of Verona
- Shakespeare's comedy of The tempest
- Shakespeare's tragedy of Titus Andronicus
via Open Library + Wikidata
Music · MusicBrainz
- Type
- Person
- Gender
- Male
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Active from
- 1564
- Active to
- 1616
via MusicBrainz · CC0
Authority record · VIAF
- Nationality
Works in European collections
36 objects attributed to William Shakespeare, held across European museums, libraries & archives · via Europeana
~40 min read
Article
William Shakespeare (c. 23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) 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. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon" or simply "the Bard". His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays, 154 sonnets, three long narrative poems and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.
Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. At the age of 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children: Susanna, and twins Hamnet and Judith. Sometime between 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in London as an actor, writer, and part-owner ("sharer") of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men, later known as the King's Men after the ascension of King James VI of Scotland to the English throne. At age 49 (around 1613) he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive; this has stimulated considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance, his sexuality, his religious beliefs and even certain fringe theories as to whether the works attributed to him were written by others.
Gallery (13)
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1564 births1616 deaths16th-century English dramatists and playwrights16th-century English male actors16th-century English male writers16th-century English poets17th-century English dramatists and playwrights17th-century English male actors17th-century English male writers17th-century English poetsBurials at Church of the Holy Trinity, Stratford-upon-Avon
