Curious about who Shakespeare actually was? He's widely considered the greatest writer in the English language – the name that comes up whenever anyone mentions classic literature. People call him the "Bard of Avon" because he came from a town called Stratford-upon-Avon. Not a bad title to carry through the centuries.
The Early Years
Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, in 1564. His father John worked as a glove maker and did well enough to become an alderman – a local official with some influence. His mother Mary came from a prosperous family. William was the third of eight children, so he grew up in a busy household.
Rise to Fame
Sometime in the late 1580s or early 1590s, Shakespeare arrived in London and started building his reputation. He worked as an actor, a playwright, and eventually became part-owner of a theater company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later renamed the King's Men under King James). A solid career move that set him up for success.
He retired to Stratford around 1613 at roughly 49 years old and passed away three years later in 1616.
His Body of Work
Shakespeare was remarkably productive. His output includes:
The Plays
Around 39 plays in total, spanning:
- Tragedies: Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear, Romeo and Juliet
- Comedies: A Midsummer Night's Dream, Much Ado About Nothing, Twelfth Night
- Histories: Henry IV, Henry V, Richard III
The Poetry
- 154 sonnets (those famous 14-line poems)
- Several longer narrative poems
Why He Still Matters
Here's something remarkable – Shakespeare invented words we use every single day. Terms like "assassination," "bedroom," "lonely," "generous," and "eyeball" all trace back to him. Over 1,700 words he coined are still in regular use.
His phrases have become part of everyday speech too: "break the ice," "wild goose chase," "heart of gold," "all that glitters is not gold." Chances are you've quoted Shakespeare without realizing it.
His plays tackle themes that never go out of style – love, jealousy, ambition, betrayal, and what it means to be human. That's why theaters around the world still stage his work more than 400 years after his death. Pretty impressive legacy for a glove maker's son from a small English town.