The greatest dramatist of all time was born at Stratford-on- Avon, not far from London, on the 23rd April, 1564. He was the son of a prosperous tradesman of the town. There is little positive knowledge of the facts of Shakespeare’s life but probably he attended the local Grammar School, where he gained a knowledge of Latin. He never became learned but he had a sound education. Owing to financial difficulties overtaking his father, he was taken from school about 1577 so that he might help the family. When nineteen he married Anne Hathaway, a woman eight years older than himself. This marriage seems to have been unhappy. Three children were born to him. Tradition says that he fell into bad company and being accused of poaching, fled to London to escape arrest and a severe sentence and to seek new fortune. Drama was then becoming very popular and Shakespeare was soon attracted to the stage, first becoming an actor and then a playwright. He began his literary career by touching up and re-writing old plays for a company of players... Continua »