William Shakespeare Biography

Poet and playwright

The English writer William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is recognised as the greatest of all dramatists. England's greatest poet and playwright was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, the son of a tradesman and Alderman of Stratford, John Shakespeare in 1564.
Shakespeare used poetic and dramatic means to create unified aesthetic effects. Many of his words (e.g. "To be or not to be") are still used as a reference.

William Shakespeare's life

A complete account of Shakespeare's life is lacking. Only few facts are known. William was baptised in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and was the eldest of eight children. In 1582 William married Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare arrived in London about 1588.
In London William attained success as an actor and as a playwright. Shakespeare gained some success with his erotic poems "Venus and Adonis" (1593) and "The rape of Lucrece" (1594). Later his Sonnets established his reputation as a popular poet.

William Shakespeare's reputation

Shakespeare's reputation is based primarily on the 68 plays he wrote. William luckily concluded some financially profitable arrangements. He shared in the profits of he acting company. Shakespeare wrote his most famous play in 1601: "Hamlet".
"King Lear" (1605) deals with the consequences of irresponsibility and in "Macbeth" Shakespeare depicts the tragedy of a man who wants to secure the Scottish throne.

Last years

After 1608 his production lessened. William Shakespeare left London in 1611 to spend his time in his impressive house "New Place" in Stratford and became a leading local citizen. His only son, Hamnet died when still a child. William Shakespeare also lost a daughter Judith (twin to Hamnet), but his third child Susanna married a Stratford Doctor, John Hall and their home "Hall's Croft" is today preserved as one of the Shakespeare Properties.

William Shakespeare died in 1616

William Shakespeare died in 1616 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Trinity the same Church where he was baptised in 1564. Tradition has it that Shakespeare died after an evening's drinking with some of his theatre friends.

More information

William Shakespeare
Stratford-upon-Avon

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