DK - The Shakespeare Book

Born more than four and a half centuries ago, William Shakespeare(15641616) is generally acknowledged to be the greatest imaginative writer in theEnglish language. He was a major poet, writing two narrative poems, 154 sonnets, andother verses. But above all, he was a poetic dramatist, the author or part-author ofalmost 40 plays, which range from the most delicate of romantic comedies, such asA Midsummer Nights Dream, As You Like It, and TwelfthNight, through a series of plays about English and Roman history, to themost profound tragedies, including Hamlet, Macbeth, and KingLear.

Far from dwindling with the passage of time, Shakespeares reputation and influencehave grown from year to year. His works, in their original texts, in translation intomost of the worlds languages, and in an enormous range of adaptations, are read,taught, and performed all over the globe. They have influenced countless other works ofart, and nobody with a claim to a liberal education can afford to be ignorant of them.This book offers a comprehensive guide to his plays and poems, concentrating on theircontent and form, while also considering their reception and influence.

"All the worlds a stage,

And all the men and women merely players.

They have their exits and their entrances,

And one man in his time plays many parts."

Jaques

As You Like It

William Shakespeare was baptized in Holy Trinity Church in the town ofStratford-upon-Avon, England, on Wednesday April 26, 1564. His exact date ofbirth is not known, but since the 18th century, his birthday has been celebratedon April 23rd.

Shakespeares father, John, came from farming stock and worked in Stratford asa whitawera tanner of white leatherand glover (glove maker). Johns wife,Mary, whose maiden name was Arden, came from a more prosperous background. Theylived in the house on Henley Street, Stratford, now known as ShakespearesBirthplace, a place of pilgrimage for hundreds of thousands of visitors from allparts of the world every year. They had two daughters who died in infancy beforeWilliam came along, and went on to have two more daughters and three more sons.The youngest, Edmund, was 16 years younger than William. Like his older brother,Edmund became an actor in London. Very little is known about him except that hedied at the age of 27, a few months after the death in infancy of hisillegitimate son.

John Shakespeare was a businessman who played a major part in civic life,becoming an alderman and rising to the rank of bailiff or mayor in 1568. At thistime, churchgoing was required by law. Both at church and at home, Shakespearewould have gained the familiarity with the Bible, the Book of Common Prayer, andthe Books of Homilies (sermons) that is apparent from his writings.

"Shall I compare thee to a summers day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate.

Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May,

And summers lease hath all too short a date."

Sonnet 18