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William Shakespeare
1564-1616
No one is more highly regarded as a writer than William Shakespeare. He is generally considered the greatest dramatist the world has produced, and one of the finest poets in the English language. His plays have been produced over more time and in more places than those of any other playwright, lending truth to the prophecy of a contemporary: He was "not of an age, but for all time." His talent for telling a story was unmatched. His fluid use of expression reformed the English language by increasing the vocabulary and adding to the flexibility of the use of poetry and prose. His remarkable gift for capturing words to express an idea has made him the most quotable author who has ever lived. His profound knowledge of and interest in human nature has resulted in a list of characters from kings to clowns who are capable of infinite interpretation. And it is the recognition of the permanent in human nature that gives Shakespeare's characters their perennial appeal. |