William Shakespeare baptised 26 April 1564 died 23 April 1616 was an English poet and playvvright vvidely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre eminentdramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the Bard of Avon . His surviving works including some collabo rations consist of 38 plays 154 sonnets two long narrative poems and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every majör living language and are per formed more often than those of any other playvvright.Shakespare was born and raised in Stratford upon Avon. At the age of 18 he married Anne Hathaway who bore him three children Susanna and tvvins Hamnet and Judith. Betvveen 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in London as an actor writer and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Stratford around 1613 where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance sexuality religious beliefs and whether the works attributed to him were written by others