William Shakespeare (baptized April 26, 1564 - died April 23, 1616) was an English poet and playwright widely regarded as the greatest writer of the English language, as well as one of the greatest in Western literature, and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He wrote about thirty-eight plays and 154 sonnets, as well as a variety of other poems. Already a popular writer in his own lifetime, Shakespeare's reputation became increasingly celebrated after his death and his work adulated by numerous prominent cultural figures through the centuries. In addition, Shakespeare is the most quoted writer in the literature and history of the English-speaking world. He is often considered the English national poet and is sometimes referred to as the "Bard of Avon" (or simply "The Bard").^[1]

For the oldest electronic collection of the Bard's complete works, visit The Works of the Bard.

1. William Shakespeare. (2006, July 30). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved July 30, 2006, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shakespeare/