William Shakespeare

1564 – 1616

William Shakespeare was an English playwright, poet, and actor widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. His extant works—roughly 39 plays, 154 sonnets, and three long narrative poems—have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright in history. From the tragedies of Hamlet, King Lear, and Macbeth to comedies including A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night, his contributions to dramatic structure, character, and the English vocabulary itself remain foundational to Western literature.

Last checked: May 10, 2026, 1:06 PM