On
This Day…
William
Shakespeare was born on this day in 1564.
William
Shakespeare (23 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright, widely
regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's
pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the
"Bard of Avon". His extant works, including some collaborations,
consist of about 38 plays,154
sonnets,
two long narrative
poems, two epitaphs on a man named John Combe, one epitaph on Elias
James, 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.
Trivia:
In 1964, was the first person other than royalty to be portrayed on a British
stamp.
There
are no living decendants from him. His family line ended in 1670 with the death
of his granddaughter Elizabeth Hall Nash Barnard, who bore no children.
He
is listed in the Guinness Book of World records as having the most number of
screen adaptations by a single author. The record for adaptations by a living
author goes to Stephen King.
Invented
many names that were popularized by his plays and entered common use. These
names include: Miranda, Jessica, Ophelia, Audrey and Viola.
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