William Shakespeare
AUTHOR

William Shakespeare

William Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in April 1564, and his birth is traditionally celebrated on April 23. The facts of his life, known from surviving documents, are sparse. He was one of eight children born to John Shakespeare, a merchant of some standing in his community. William probably went to the King's New School in Stratford, but he had no university education. In November 1582, at the age of eighteen, he married Anne Hathaway, eight years his senior, who was pregnant with their first child, Susanna. She was born on May 26, 1583. Twins, a boy, Hamnet ( who would die at age eleven), and a girl, Judith, were born in 1585. By 1592 Shakespeare had gone to London working as an actor and already known as a playwright. A rival dramatist, Robert Greene, referred to him as "an upstart crow, beautified with our feathers." Shakespeare became a principal shareholder and playwright of the successful acting troupe, the Lord Chamberlain's Men (later under James I, called the King's Men). In 1599 the Lord Chamberlain's Men built and occupied the Globe Theater in Southwark near the Thames River. Here many of Shakespeare's plays were performed by the most famous actors of his time, including Richard Burbage, Will Kempe, and Robert Armin. In addition to his 37 plays, Shakespeare had a hand in others, including Sir Thomas More and The Two Noble Kinsmen, and he wrote poems, including Venus and Adonis and The Rape of Lucrece. His 154 sonnets were published, probably without his authorization, in 1609. In 1611 or 1612 he gave up his lodgings in London and devoted more and more time to retirement in Stratford, though he continued writing such plays as The Tempest and Henry VII until about 1613. He died on April 23 1616, and was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Stratford. No collected edition of his plays was published during his life-time, but in 1623 two members of his acting company, John Heminges and Henry Condell, put together the great collection now called the First Folio.

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    • The Tempest

    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Sir Ian McKellen, Emilia Fox, Scott Handy, and others
    • Length: 2 hrs and 7 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 336
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 307
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 305

    Sir Ian McKellen, fresh from his performance as Gandalf in Lord of the Rings, is Prospero, and heads a strong cast in Shakespeare’s last great play....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • A stellar performance by a stunning cast

    • By Jeremy R. Snyder on 02-18-14

    Regular price: $16.81

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Macbeth

    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: James Marsters, Joanne Whalley, Josh Cooke, and others
    • Length: 1 hr and 59 mins
    • Original Recording
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 291
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 264
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 263

    Infamously known as the cursed Scottish play, Macbeth is perhaps Shakespeare’s darkest tragedy....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • Might want to Read Along

    • By SydSavvy on 02-03-14

    Regular price: $6.95

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Othello: Fully Dramatized Audio Edition

    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: full cast
    • Length: 2 hrs and 59 mins
    • Original Recording
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 117
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 101
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 103

    This new full-cast recording - based on the most respected edition of Shakespeare's classic - expertly produced by the Folger Theatre, is perfect for students, teachers, and the everyday listener....

    • 4 out of 5 stars

    • Good cast

    • By Becky on 06-06-17

    Regular price: $13.99

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Classic BBC Radio Shakespeare: Tragedies

    • Hamlet; Macbeth; Romeo and Juliet
    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: full cast, Paul Scofield, Peggy Ashcroft, and others
    • Length: 7 hrs and 23 mins
    • Original Recording
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 66
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 62
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 59

    Three powerful radio productions from the BBC archives starring Ian McKellen, Ronald Pickup and Paul Scofield and a host of celebrated acting talent....

    • 2 out of 5 stars

    • Abridged

    • By Jennifer Sheridan on 07-08-17

    Regular price: $21.31

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Romeo and Juliet

    • Arkangel Shakespeare
    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Joseph Fiennes, Maria Miles, Elizabeth Spriggs
    • Length: 3 hrs and 2 mins
    • Original Recording
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 67
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 61
    • Story
      5 out of 5 stars 61

    In the world's most celebrated and lyrical love story, the sublime devotion of two young lovers transcends their earthly fate....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • Well played!

    • By April M. on 09-01-17

    Regular price: $17.47

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • King Lear

    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Paul Scofield, Alec McCowen, Kenneth Branagh
    • Length: 3 hrs and 6 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 74
    • Performance
      4 out of 5 stars 61
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 63

    The tragedy of King Lear receives an outstanding performance in an all-star cast led by Britain’s senior classical actor, Paul Scofield....

    • 2 out of 5 stars

    • No life in this Lear.

    • By zachary on 03-01-14

    Regular price: $18.60

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • King Lear

    • Arkangel Shakespeare
    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Trevor Peacock, Clive Merrison, full cast
    • Length: 3 hrs and 8 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 102
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 91
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 90

    This shattering drama of isolation and loss is one of the greatest tragedies in world literature....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • tragedy par excellence

    • By turbopro on 08-10-16

    Regular price: $17.47

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Julius Caesar

    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Andrew Buchan, Sean Barrett
    • Length: 2 hrs and 16 mins
    • Unabridged
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 1,169
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 1,051
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 1,052

    Julius Caesar is one of Shakespeare’s most compelling Roman plays. The plot against Caesar and the infamous assassination scene make for unforgettable listening....

    • 4 out of 5 stars

    • The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars

    • By David on 04-05-14

    Regular price: $12.59

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • The Taming of the Shrew

    • Arkangel Shakespeare
    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Frances Barber, Roger Allam, Alan Cox
    • Length: 2 hrs and 17 mins
    • Original Recording
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 66
    • Performance
      5 out of 5 stars 60
    • Story
      4 out of 5 stars 62

    Love and wit conquer all in Shakespeare's sparkling comedy of self-delusion and disguise....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • Very well done!

    • By S. Riggs on 01-06-18

    Regular price: $13.96

    Free with 30-day Trial

    • Henry V

    • Arkangel Shakespeare
    • By: William Shakespeare
    • Narrated by: Jamie Glover, Brian Cox, Elizabeth Spriggs
    • Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
    • Original Recording
    • Overall
      4.5 out of 5 stars 69
    • Performance
      4.5 out of 5 stars 68
    • Story
      4.5 out of 5 stars 68

    Henry V is a study of kingship, patriotism, and heroic determination tempered by tender comedy as Henry courts Katherine, princess of France....

    • 5 out of 5 stars

    • The Best Version of the Best Thing Ever Written

    • By Millerhaus on 02-04-17

    Regular price: $17.47

    Free with 30-day Trial

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