VVilliam Shakespeare(baptised 26 April 1564; died 23 April 1616) was an English poet and playwright vvidely regarded as the greatest vvriter in the English language and the vvorld's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon". His surviv-ing works including some collabora-tions consist of 38 plays 154 sonnets two long narrative poems and several other poems. His plays have been trans-lated into every majör living language and are performed more often than those of any other playvvright. Shakespeare was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon. At the age of 18 he married Anne Hathavvay who bore him three children: Susanna and twins Hamnet and Judith. Between 1585 and 1592 he began a successful career in London as an actor vvriter and part owner of a playing company called the Lord Chamberlain's Men later known as the King's Men. He appears to have retired to Strat-ford around 1613 where he died three years later. Few records of Shakespeare's private life survive and there has been considerable speculation about such matters as his physical appearance sexual-ity religious beliefs and vvhether the vvorks attributed to him were vvritten by others.