William Shakespeare - some biographical notes

The early years
◆ Born in April 1564
in Stratford on Avon
◆ His father - a fairly
rich merchant

Stratford on Avon

Shakespeare‘s schooling

Wife and Children
◆ Marriage to Anne Hathaway in 1582
◆ Anne was 26, he was 18
◆ 3 children
◆ The youngest, Hamnet died at the
age of 11

London
◆ went to London at
21
◆ joined a travelling company of actors
◆ worked both as an
actor and a writer

London Life in
the 16th century
Poor sewer system
High crime rate
But …
200,000 inhabitants
the cultural and political heart of England

The Globe Theatre
◆ opened in 1599
◆ His successes had made Shakespeare
a rich man
◆ He became one of the principal investors

Ups and downs
Failures and successes
The affair with the
"Dark Lady"

The end of his life
Return to Stratford
in 1610
Destruction of the Globe Theatre in 1613 (the Great Fire of London)
In 1616 Shakespeare died on April, 23 (his birthday!)