William Shakespeare 1564-1616

When you want to know more about William Shakespeare, you have to keep two things in mind. The first is that there are more stories, tales, anecdotes and theories about this man than you can imagine. And secondly, that we know very little for sure about him. The second one is probably the most important to remember when you are looking for information about Shakespeare’s life and works.

Early life: 1564-1585

William Shakespeare was born in April 1564 in Stratford-on-Avon. We don’t know his exact day of birth, but he was baptized on April 26. His birthday is still celebrated on the 23rd of April, which is also St. George’s Day, the patron saint of England. John Shakespeare, his father, was a tradesman; a glove maker and a moneylender, and he played a role in the local government. There is some evidence that John Shakespeare was a Catholic. However, this does not mean that Shakespeare himself was a Catholic too.

Shakespeare probably went to Stratford Grammar School, where he received a good education and knowledge of Latin literature and history. He did not go to either Oxford or Cambridge, so he had no university education. In 1582 he married Anne Hathaway, who was 8 years older than he. They had three children together; Susanna, and twins: Judith and Hamnet.

The Lost Years: 1585-1592

The years between 1585 and 1592 are often called “the lost years”. That is because there are no documentary records left of Shakespeare’s life in this period. But, as with the rest of Shakespeare’s life, people have speculated about this period a lot. Some say Shakespeare must have been a sailor for else he could not have been so well-informed about the sea and life on the sea in his plays. Others say he served in the army during these years, because his plays clearly show his knowledge of war and warfare. However, from this period there is no factual evidence of Shakespeare’s life, so these theories are mostly guesswork.