William Shakespeare (1564 – 1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language. Known as the "Bard of Avon", he produced 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and several narrative poems, shaping literature and theater for centuries.
Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare likely attended the local grammar school. At 18, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children. By the early 1590s, he was in London, writing plays and acting with the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, later renamed the King’s Men. His early works included comedies and histories, such as A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Henry V, but he later focused on tragedies, producing Hamlet, Othello, King Lear, and Macbeth – some of the most profound works in world literature.
Shakespeare’s plays were immensely popular, performed at the Globe Theatre and later published in the First Folio (1623). His influence extended beyond drama, enriching the English language with countless phrases and expressions.
Around 1613, he retired to Stratford, where he died in 1616. His works remain central to literary study, inspiring generations of writers, filmmakers, and scholars. His legacy endures as the most celebrated playwright in history.