William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire, England, and was baptized on April 26, 1564. An English poet and playwright, he was widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's preeminent dramatist. His surviving works, including collaborations, comprise 38 plays, 154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and several other poems. His plays have been translated into every major living language and are performed more often than those of any other playwright.
