William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) was an English playwright, poet, and actor, and is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's foremost dramatist. Born in Stratford-upon-Avon, he made his career in London's theatre world from the late 1580s, writing for the Lord Chamberlain's Men — later the King's Men — and holding a share in the Globe Theatre, where many of his plays were first performed.
His surviving work comprises roughly 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and several longer poems. The plays range across tragedy (Hamlet, Macbeth, King Lear, Othello), comedy (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, As You Like It), history (Henry V, Richard III, Julius Caesar), and late romance (The Tempest). Most were gathered in the 1623 First Folio, published seven years after his death — the reason so much of his work survives at all.
Shakespeare wrote in early-modern English verse, and for many first-time readers the archaic vocabulary, inverted word order, and dense wordplay make the plays feel harder than they really are. The stories underneath — ambition and murder, mistaken identity, jealousy, young love, and revenge — remain as immediate today as they were four centuries ago, which is why the plays have never left the stage.
Our modern-English editions restore Shakespeare's plays into clear, natural language so you can follow the story, the characters, and the drama without stopping to decode every line — and then return to the original verse with the whole play already in your head. Read the opening of any title free, and read or listen to the complete works with a membership.
William Shakespeare in the library · 12 works
A Midsummer Night's Dream
As You Like It
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Julius Caesar
Macbeth
Othello, the Moor of Venice
Romeo and Juliet
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The Merchant of Venice
The Tempest
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Twelfth Night
Audiobooks by William Shakespeare
Every William Shakespeare title in the library is also a complete, professionally produced audiobook — 12 audiobooks in total. Members listen free on any device. Browse the audiobook library →
Frequently asked questions about William Shakespeare
What did William Shakespeare write?
Shakespeare wrote roughly 38 plays, 154 sonnets, and several narrative poems over a career of about two decades. The plays are traditionally grouped as tragedies (Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, King Lear), comedies (A Midsummer Night's Dream, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice), and histories (Henry V, Richard III, Julius Caesar), with late 'romances' such as The Tempest standing slightly apart. Most were collected in the 1623 First Folio, published seven years after his death, which is why so much of his work survives.
Where should I start with Shakespeare?
For most new readers, Romeo and Juliet, Macbeth, or A Midsummer Night's Dream are the easiest ways in — the plots are fast, famous, and easy to follow. If you prefer a psychological drama, Hamlet is the natural next step, and Othello is one of his tightest, most gripping tragedies. Starting with a modern-English edition lets you meet the story and characters first, so the language never gets in the way of the drama.
Are Shakespeare's plays hard to read?
They can feel difficult at first, mostly because of the early-modern vocabulary, flexible word order, and constant wordplay — not because the stories themselves are complicated. Once you settle into the rhythm, the plays move quickly and the emotions are completely recognisable. Reading a clear modern-English version alongside the original is the fastest way to build that comfort, because you always know what is happening before you slow down to admire how it is said.
What is Shakespeare best known for?
He is best known for a handful of tragedies — Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello, and King Lear — and for comedies like A Midsummer Night's Dream and Twelfth Night that are still staged and filmed constantly. He is also credited with shaping the English language itself, popularising hundreds of everyday phrases such as 'break the ice', 'wild-goose chase', and 'heart of gold'. His 154 sonnets, especially 'Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?', are among the most quoted poems ever written.
When did Shakespeare live?
Shakespeare was baptised in April 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and died there in April 1616, aged 52. His writing career ran from about the late 1580s to around 1613, during the reigns of Elizabeth I and James I — the height of the English Renaissance. He spent most of his working life in London's theatre world before retiring to Stratford in his final years.
Did Shakespeare really write his plays?
The overwhelming view among historians and scholars is yes — the documentary evidence connecting William Shakespeare of Stratford to the plays and poems is strong and consistent for a commoner of his era. 'Authorship question' theories proposing other writers, such as the Earl of Oxford or Francis Bacon, emerged mostly in the 19th century and are not accepted by mainstream scholarship. What is genuinely uncertain is ordinary biographical detail — exact dates and personal life — not the identity of the author.
How many plays did Shakespeare write?
Around 38 plays survive, though the exact count varies depending on how collaborations and disputed works are counted. Thirty-six appeared in the 1623 First Folio; Pericles and The Two Noble Kinsmen were added later, and there are references to a lost play, Cardenio. Modern scholars believe several plays were written partly with collaborators, which was completely normal in the Elizabethan theatre.
Where can I read Shakespeare's works?
Shakespeare's works are in the public domain, so the original texts are freely available — but the early-modern English can be a barrier for first-time readers. Here you can read the opening of any of his plays free in clear modern English, and read or listen to the complete works with a membership. That lets you enjoy the full story and drama first, then return to the original verse whenever you like.
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