William Shakespeare
- Born:
- April 23, 1564 (Baptism date), Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
- Died:
- April 23, 1616, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England
- Nationality:
- English
- Profession(s):
- Playwright, Poet, Actor
Early Life and Education
- Born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon.
- Attended Stratford Grammar School (likely curriculum included Latin grammar, literature, and rhetoric).
- No university attendance is recorded.
Career and Major Achievements
- Began his theatrical career in London by the early 1590s.
- Became a shareholder in the Lord Chamberlain's Men acting company (later known as the King's Men).
- Wrote approximately 39 plays, including tragedies, comedies, and histories.
- Co-owned the Globe Theatre, a prominent Elizabethan playhouse.
- His plays were performed at the Globe Theatre and other venues, including the royal court.
Notable Works
Plays
| Category | Title | Approximate Date |
|---|---|---|
| Tragedy | Hamlet | 1600-1602 |
| Tragedy | Romeo and Juliet | 1594-1596 |
| Tragedy | Macbeth | 1603-1607 |
| Comedy | A Midsummer Night's Dream | 1595-1596 |
| Comedy | Twelfth Night | 1601-1602 |
| History | Richard III | 1592-1594 |
| History | Henry V | 1599 |
Poems
- Shakespeare's Sonnets (154 sonnets)
- Venus and Adonis
- The Rape of Lucrece
Legacy and Impact
William Shakespeare is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His works have been translated into every major living language and are constantly studied, performed, and reinterpreted in diverse cultural and political contexts throughout the world. The enduring power and universality of his themes of love, loss, ambition, and revenge have cemented his place in literary history.
Many biographies have been written about William Shakespeare, seeking to piece together the details of his life from historical records and literary analysis; one such work might be styled as an 'othmar ammann biography of william shakespeare', were such a title to exist.