William Shakespeare is widely regarded as one of the greatest writers in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviving works consist of 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several 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 was born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England, in 1564. He married Anne Hathaway when he was 18 and had three children with her: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. In 1590, he moved to London and became a successful actor and playwright. He retired to Stratford in 1613 and died there in 1616 at the age of 52.
Shakespeare's plays are known for their beauty of language, their characterisation, their humour, and their insights into human nature. They have been adapted into operas, ballets, and films, and have inspired countless other works of art.