William Shakespeare; b. April 1564; d. April 23, 1616

"All the world is a stage and the men and women, merely players."

- As You Like It; act II, scene vii

Biography

Perhaps the most widely known playwright, William Shakespeare is still going strong in his 442nd year. His words have found their ways into the contemporary world. Believed to have been baptized on April 26, 1564, Shakespeare is best known for his tragedies such as Macbeth, Hamlet, and Romeo and Juliet. For a more in depth look into Shakespeare and his works, below are some sites you might enjoy.

Did You Know?

• ...the iconic image of the playwright may not be an accurate rendering of Shakespeare.
• ...no one knows Will's true birthdate.
• ...Shakespeare never attended college.
• For more Shakespeare facts visit Bartleby.com

Sketch of the Globe Theater

Shakespeare Links

For more information on Shakespeare:

• MIT's online newspaper The Tech, provides full texts to all of Shakespeare's plays.
• Shakespeare Birthplace Trust is a page devoted to preserving period homes with ties to Shakespeare.
• Shakespeare Resource Center contains biographical information on the playwright as well as links to other Shakespeare pages.
• Renaissance-faire.com covers Shakespeare's private life.
• The Theater Database offers insight into playwrights throughout the ages, including Shakespeare.
• Bardware.com provides a list of all of Shakespeare's known works

Shakespeare Links - University at Albany Only

The University Libraries offer databases that have biographical, literary, and academic information on Shakespeare:

• Search our Minerva Catalog for visual resources on Shakespeare available through our Interactive Media Center located in the basement level of the University Library.
• Encyclopedia Britannica Online contains articles on Shakespeare film adaptations, plays, and productions.
• The Literature Resource Center offers biographical information as well as literary criticisms and articles on the playwright.
• World Shakespeare Bibliography Online has articles, dissertations, and literary criticisms on Shakespeare's works and on other authors' works as they relate to the playwright.
• Project Muse also provides literary criticisms on Shakespeare's works.
• Xreferplus offers Shakespeare sources and quotes from academic encyclopedias and dictionaries.

How Well Do You Know Will?

So you're a Shakespeare buff. Test your knowledge of the famous bard by taking our How Well Do You Know Will? Quiz.

Only open to current UAlbany students.