1564: William Shakespeare born

t is commonly believed that the great English dramatist and poet William Shakespeare is born in Stratford-upon-Avon on April 23, 1564. Actually, it is impossible to be certain exactly the day on which he was born, just as it is impossible to prove conclusively if it was the Shakespeare from Stratford who displayed such literary and theatrical mastery. However, it is certain that no plays have been performed or analyzed as much as the 36 plays ascribed to him. These works, such as Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and King Lear, are known worldwide, and, as frequent modern adaptation attests, continue to be relevant 400 years after they were composed.