William Shakespeare 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". His surviving works, including some collaborations, consist of 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.

Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in Warwickshire and was baptised on 26 April 1564. Thought to have been educated at the local grammar school, he married Anne Hathaway, with whom he went on to have three children, at the age of eighteen, before moving to London to work in the theatre. Two erotic poems, Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece were published in 1593 and 1594 and records of his plays begin to appear in 1594 for Richard III and the three parts of Henry VI. Shakespeare's tragic period lasted from around 1600 to 1608, during which period he wrote plays including Hamlet and Othello. The first editions of the sonnets were published in 1609 but evidence suggests that Shakespeare had been writing them for years for a private readership.

Shakespeare spent the last five years of his life in Stratford, by now a wealthy man. He died on 23 April 1616 and was buried in Holy Trinity Church in Stratford. The first collected edition of his works was published in 1623.

(The portrait details: The Chandos portrait, artist and authenticity unconfirmed. NPG1, © National Portrait Gallery, London)

Barbara A. Mowat (1934-2017) was the Director of Research Emerita at the Folger Shakespeare Library, consulting editor of Shakespeare Quarterly, and editor (with Paul Werstine) of the Folger Shakespeare Library editions of Shakespeare's works. Her major fields of research interest included Shakespeare’s dramatic romances, early modern printed dramatic texts, and Shakespeare’s reading practices. She received an M.A. degree in English literature from the University of Virginia, a Ph.D. in English literature from Auburn University, and Doctorates of Humane Letters from Amherst College, St. Johns University, and Washington College. Before coming to the Folger, she was Hollifield Professor of English Literature at Auburn University and then Dean of the College at Washington College. She served as president of the Shakespeare Association of America, president of the Southeast Renaissance Conference, chair of the MLA committee on the New Variorum Shakespeare, and was a member of the advisory board of the International Shakespeare Conference.

About Walter J. Schenck

Between the years 2018 through 2020, after he retired, Walter Schenck has achieved: 23 Genius Ratings for Creativity plus an additional 11 Exceptional Ratings for Creativity for a variety of his publications. He also achieved 8 perfect 100% scores for his books.

Walter Schenck is a highly respected, award winning author in existential literature as well as recasting religious lessons into brilliant epic novels. Walter is an award-winning poet, award-winning biographer, award-winning science-fiction writer, award-winning novella writer, award-winning researcher, and award-winning playwright. His novels and writing style have been compared to Herman Hesse, James A. Michener, and Walter Wangerin while his narrative poems has been compared to Charles Whitman. For his brilliant existential novel using the Vietnam War as a backdrop, Walter Schenck achieved "Feature Author" status in Publisher's Weekly as well as outstanding critical acclaim in Kirkus Book Reviews. Walter has achieved three Recommended Read Lists in Kirkus Book Reviews. Walter is a Professional member of PEN American Center and a Dramatist Guild Associate Member, besides being a member of FAPA and FWA.

Walter is has also earned credentials as a gifted Director of plays with proven comprehensive interpretative abilities as well as an extraordinary, brilliant actor.

All his epic novels are richly detailed, well reviewed, and represent the traditions of the grand storyteller.

Additionally, Walter freely presents creative nonfiction lecturing tours which are noted for their "riveting performance" and as a "best speaker to a writer group in the past twenty years." When he can, he also gives free hands-on help to aspiring writers with their poetry, plays, and novels.

Walter Schenck’s Awards and Accolades

➢ FAPA National Award-winning Author, Gold, 2014

– Priests & Warriors.

Category: Religion.

➢ FAPA National Award Winning Author, Silver, 2015

– Shiloh, Unveiled.

Category: Religion.

➢ FAPA National Award Winning Poet, Bronze, 2016

– Thee & Me In A Mellow Thine.

Category: Poetry.

➢ Royal Palm Literary Award, Gold, 2017

– Katharine’s Horses.

Category: Biography.

➢ RECOMMENDED READ LIST in Kirkus Book Reviews:

First Voices.

➢ RECOMMENDED READ LIST in Kirkus Book Reviews:

Uncle Earl’s Doggies.

➢ RECOMMENDED READ LIST in Kirkus Book Reviews:

A Comprehensive Analysis of the Synoptic Gospels.

➢ Feature Author in Publisher’s Weekly:

The Birdcatcher.

➢ Critical acclaims in Kirkus Book Reviews: “Brilliantly existential”

- The Birdcatcher.

➢ Four additional critical acclaims in Kirkus Book Reviews.

➢ Achieved 3 additional critical acclaim reviews in Publisher’s Weekly.

➢ Achieved 3 Writer’s Digest critical acclaims for poetry.

➢ Achieved Amazon’s coveted #1 Best Seller List placement 11 times.

➢ Professional membership in PEN American Central.

➢ Associate membership Dramatist Guild.

➢ Creator of Schenck's Official Stage Formatting Series (15 Volumes).

➢ Creator of Schenck’s Great Poetry Series (2 Volumes).

* For 2018 Walter Schenck accomplished the following awards *

➢ FAPA National Award Winning Poet, Gold, 2018

– Something Magical in the Soul.

Category: Poetry.

➢ FAPA National Award Winning Researcher, Silver, 2018

– The Truth of Jesus’ Life While Reflecting on his Parables and Other Sayings: Part Two.

Category: Research.

➢ Royal Palm Literary Semi-Finalist Awards, 2018

– Prometheus, Reimagined.

Category: Science Fiction.

➢ Royal Palm Literary Semi-Finalist Award, 2018

– Prometheus, Reimagined.

Category: Fantasy.

➢ Royal Palm Literary Third Prize, 2018

- A Glimpse of Peace on the Journey to Armageddon.

Category: Novella

➢ Royal Palm Literary Award, 1st Place, 2018

Escape to Canada, Rendered in Poetic Overtures.

Category: General Catch-All

➢ Royal Palm Literary Award, 1st Place, 2018

Hamlet, Reimagined

Category: Play

➢ Royal Palm Literary Award, GRAND AWARD, 2018

Hamlet, Reimagined

Category: The Dahris Clair Memorial Award for Play

Royal Palm Literary Award, 1st Place, 2019

Blemished

Category: Play

FAPA National Award Winning Researcher, Silver, 2019

How To Correctly Format a Stage Play

Category: Research.

Also, Walter Schenck has established himself as an extraordinary employee of an International Bank, (nondisclosure agreement signed) achieving five times President’s Club status. He is acknowledged by his peers as an original thinker with sharp analytical skills into a variety of authors: existentialism, pragmatism, and 18th century developmental poetry and novels.

My name is Jamie Iaconis and I have been working online since 1994. I have been publishing books and e-books for many years and have chosen the best classic books for you to enjoy. Have a fantastic day, Jamie! :-)