Big Bill

On this day, in 1564, was born the greatest writer in the English language, William Shakespeare.  The Bard of Avon wrote 39 plays (more or less) as well as a bunch of sonnets and two long narrative poems.  He was also an actor and helped run a theatre company.  And he did just about all of it in a 25 year period.

It's hard to explain the genius of Shakespeare.  In fact, some throw up their hands and say it must have been somebody else, though I'm not sure how that helps us much.  I guess somebody's got to be the best, and he was the guy.  Not that everyone recognized it when he was alive--he was popular, but not without his critics.  And he followed his own rules when it came to what was stageworthy.

A few other facts:

--He married an older woman, Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant when they tied the knot.

--Almost nothing is known of what he did during his early adult years.

--He spelled his name different ways during his life, though never, apparently, "Shakespeare."

--It's claimed he introduced about 3000 words into the English language.

--His shortest play is The Comedy Of Errors, his longest, Hamlet.

--Some believe his name is intentionally hidden in the 46th Psalm in the King James Bible.