William Shakespeare is arguably the most famous writer of the English language, known for both his plays and his sonnets. Though much about his life remains open to debate because of incomplete evidence, the following biography consolidates the most widely-accepted facts of Shakespeare's life and career.
In the mid-sixteenth century, William Shakespeare's father, John Shakespeare, moved to the idyllic town of Stratford-upon-Avon. There, he became a successful landowner, moneylender, glove-maker, and dealer of wool and agricultural goods. In 1557, he married Mary Arden.
During John Shakespeare's time, the British middle class was expanding in both size and wealth, which allowed its members...
