SHAKESPEARE, William

"Soule of the Age! The applause! delight! The wonder of our stage!"

Undoubtedly the preeminent English playwright William Shakespeare needs little introduction, 400 years after his death his plays are still regularly performed throughout the world, phrases from his work pervade the English language and his stories form the basis for many adaptations and copycat stories.

Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, Shakespeare’s exact date of birth is unknown, although records show he was baptised on April 26th 1564 and high childhood mortality rates at the time mean he was likely to have been baptised within a few days of his birth. His birthday is now observed on 23rd April, which is also St George’s (patron saint of England) day. At the age of 18 he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he had three children.

Shakespeare’s first plays were staged in London in the 1590’s and in 1599 members of Shakespeare’s theatre company built their own theatre, named The Globe, on the South Bank of the River Thames.

Shakespeare died on 23rd April 1616 and is buried in Holy Trinity Church Stratford, where an epitaph carved onto his grave stone places a curse against moving his bones.

Please scroll down to see our current stock of Shakespeare's works, including illustrated copies.