Shakespere

Shakespere

William Shakespeare

Summary: An overview of the life of the famous English playwright William Shakespeare (1564-1616).

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"O Romeo. O Romeo, where for thou are Romeo?" That's the famous quote from one of William Shakespeare's famous play, Romeo and Juliet. Shakespeare has written 36 plays, 154 sonnets, and 2 narrative poems. William Shakespeare is not only the most famous English writer, but he's also one of the most popular writers. Not much is known about Shakespeare's life, but all records that are known about him come from his works, the church, and public records.

Shakespeare was baptized at Holy Trinity Church on April 28, 1564, in Stratford-on-Avon. Most likely, he was born a couple of days earlier. He then moved to a small area with less than 2,000 people that was located in the small county of Warwickshire. He most likely attended one of Stratford's free, but excellent grammar schools even though there is no record of that fact exists.

John Shakespeare was William Shakespeare's father. John was a Glover and leather merchant with great financial success. He was chosen high Bailiff (mayor), but later withdrew from civic life. In the mid-1570's, the family's financial status declined and was lost. John died in 1601. Mary Shakespeare was William Shakespeare's mother. She died in 1609, eight years after John died.

On November 28, 1582, the church officials gave Shakespeare permission to marry Anne Hathaway. Shakespeare was 18 when he married Anne, and she was 26 and was most likely pregnant with her first child. Susanna. Susanna was baptized on May 26, 1583. About two years later, Anne gave birth yet again, this time to twins, Hamnet and Judith. They were baptized on February 2, 1585.

Shakespeare arrived in London in 1591, when he was 27 years old. By then, he was already he was an established writer and actor. He then lived and worked there for 25 years,...

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