William Shakespeare is arguably the most famous writer of the English language, known for both his plays and sonnets. Though much about his life remains open to controversy because of incomplete evidence, the following biography consolidates the most widely-accepted facts of his life and career.
In the mid-sixteenth century, William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, moved to the idyllic town of Stratford-upon-Avon. There, he became a successful landowner, moneylender, glove-maker, and dealer of wool and agricultural goods. In 1557, he married Mary Arden.
John Shakespeare lived during a time when the middle class was expanding in both size and wealth, allowing its members more...
