william shakespeare (1564 –1616) was an english poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the english language and the world's preeminent dramatist. he is often called england's national poet and the "bard of avon" (or simply "the bard"). shakespeare produced most of his known work between 1590 and 1613. his early plays were mainly comedies and histories, genres he raised to the peak of sophistication and artistry by the end of the sixteenth century. he then wrote mainly tragedies until about 1608, including hamlet, king lear, and macbeth, considered some of the finest works in the english language. shakespeare was a respected poet and playwright in his own day, but his reputation did not rise to
