William Shakespeare (bapt. 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616)^[a] was an English poet, playwright, and actor, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's greatest dramatist.^[2][3][4] He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon".^[5][b] His extant works, including collaborations, consist of some 39 plays,^[c]154 sonnets, two long narrative poems, and a few other verses, some of uncertain authorship. His plays have been translated into every major …