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William Shakespeare (1564-1616)
One can hardly come across any other name in world literature that could be compared with the name of William Shakespeare.
The greatest and best interpreter of human nature, the poet of the widest sympathies, of the most profound knowledge of mankind, came into the world at the pleasant town of Stratford-on-Avon in April, 1564. His birthday is uncertain. He was baptised, as the Parish Register states, on April 26, 1564, but there is nothing to prove on what day he was born. His father, John Shakespeare was a wool-dealer and glover. He stood, at all events, in good estimation. He was a yeoman and held some landed property. In 1557, John married Mary Arden. It was her destiny to become the mother of William Shakespeare. She had eight children: four sons and four daughters. William was the third child.

SHAKESPEARE PLACES
Shakespeare was born and spent a great part of his life in Stratford-upon-Avon.
Mary Arden's house, three miles northwest of Stratford. Here lived Shakespeare's mother. This is a typical farm house of the period.

Henley Street
Shakespeare's birthplace in Henley Street. John Shakespeare lived and kept his shop in this house. His eight children were born here. Two of them died young.

Anne Hathaway's cottage
Anne Hathaway's cottage, a mile from Stratford, where she was born, in 1556 and lived until she married William Shakespeare in 1582.

The place where the house in which Shakespeare died
This is the place where the house in which Shakespeare died used to be. It was a big house bought by William Shakespeare for his family when he was still in London. Here he spent the last years of his life. Unfortunately, the house was destroyed.

The Holy Trinity Church
This is the Holy Trinity Church where Shakespeare was buried. Visitors coming to Stratford admire the beauty of the church and honour his memory. It's interesting that he died on his birthday, 23 April, 1616.

Royal Shakespeare Theatre
Another memorial to William Shakespeare is the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The present building was constructed in 1932. The first building was opened on Shakespeare's birthday in 1879 and destroyed by fire in 1926.

The bronze statue of Shakespeare
The bronze statue of Shakespeare, presented to Stratford by Lord Ronald Sutterland Gower in 1888. Shakespeare's figure is high above the ground and on the ground there are small figures of Shakespeare's famous characters.