Shakespeare Fridge Magnet

William Shakespeare (1564-1616) is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's leading dramatist often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon." Shakespeare was the son of John Shakespeare, an alderman and successful glove maker and Mary Aden, the daughter of an affluent landowner. He was born and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon and at the age of 18 married 26 year-old Anne Hathaway with whom he had three children. In 1592 Shakespeare began a successful career in London as an actor, writer and part-owner of a playing company called 'Lord Chamberlain's Men.' Between 1589 and 1613 he wrote 39 plays, 154 sonnets, 3 long narrative poems and his plays have been translated into every major language. Shakespeare remains arguably the most influential writer in the English language, and his works continue to be studied and reinterpreted.  At age 49 he appears to have retired to Stratford, where he died three years later.